“Share your knowledge. It is a way to achieve immortality.” That’s a quote from the Dalai Lama. Although sharing knowledge may be a relatively new idea, it’s one expert say is a good one, since the more you give, the more you will receive in return.
“What’s the point in knowing if you don’t share it?” asks Julian Stodd in a blog post. “Collaboration and generosity are what drive innovation and engagement and yet organizations are often obsessed with hiding things away, with tucking their stories out of sight behind paywalls and firewalls, behind layers of impersonal websites and corporate comms that lack content and impact,” Stodd writes.
In the social age, knowledge itself is no longer power, Stodd believes. Instead, it’s the ability to synthesize meaning out of multiple sources, to reinvent yourself and effect change, your generosity of time and expertise, these are the things that add value, he says. “These are the things that make you influential, that give you authority around a subject. It’s not about what you know and hides away, it’s about the conversations that you get into and how generous you are (and how willing you are to learn).”
The power of sharing knowledge is one of the driving principles for Matt Choi of Certus Trading. Certus Trading offers educational courses on how to trade successfully in a range of markets. Beyond having a passion for trading, Choi is one of those teachers who has a deep, underlying passion for teaching, learning and for imparting knowledge to others.
“I get the satisfaction of teaching the principles and strategies to my students that helped me gain success in trading on a range of markets,” Choi explains. “At the same time, I get to change my students’ lives and help my students achieve their dreams simply by doing what I love, by teaching my passion, so, why not share, right?”
Kristine Maudal and Even Fossen, the founders of the Brainwells blog, say that people are so used to holding back on ideas and insights, that they share them only with a few others. Most people do not understand how anyone can share valuable advice for free, the authors add.
“Sometimes we even start thinking that there has to be a hidden agenda, that this is too good to be true. And of course, sometimes, it is. But things are changing. Today knowledge is a commodity. From almost every corner of the world you can deep dive into top-notch research, experience, and advice. As long as you know how to do it.”
Maudal and Fossen offer three good reasons for giving knowledge away:
First, they are convinced that the better the leadership qualifications we see in the world, the better the world will become. “And the more people we meet who agree with us on this and work with this in mind, the better it is!”
Second, they really enjoy being on the receiving end of knowledge. To be given the gift that someone’s been digging up and sharing as great content is a bliss, and makes the day much more fun, they write. “We so appreciate all the valuable input we get from others, that it is pure joy to be able to give something back. Working like this is like a Perpetua Mobile — a machine creating its own energy. The more we give, the more we get. And we just love it!”
Third, they have become part of something bigger than themselves, simply by sharing knowledge. For years, Maudal and Fossen have been leaders and executives in the business world. When they were finally exposed to process thinking, including various tools and methods on how to achieve what you want, they were amazed by the instant effect. “We’ve made it our mission to collect and share the best ideas with leaders who want to make a difference.”
Although the Brainwells blog is free, Maudal and Fossen make money by offering online leadership programs.
Being a part of the knowledge economy can be very rewarding. Especially now when sharing is such a big part of the process. You can help improve the world, simply by sharing your knowledge.
