2004.10.D.05. If You Don’t Know What You Don’t Know You Don’t Know What You Don’t Know Created by James3 on 8/30/2019 6:47:52 PM If You Don’t Know What You Don’t Know You Don’t Know What You Don’t Know
One of the principles that I teach on in my business courses and conference presentations with regard to information technology and business strategy is:
"when you don't know what you don't know you don't know what you don't know"
at first glance this looks like tautology.
However, if you take time to think about it this sums up a very important and very fundamental life principle.
It is particularly relevant in the area of competence modelling in human resource management in business, competence being the combined knowledge and experience of a person.
Competence modelling indicates that when a person knows very little about a subject and axiomatically do not know the full ambit of what they do not know, they have enormous difficulty communicating with someone who has considerable knowledge and experience in the subject because the person with little experience simply does not have enough knowledge or experience to understand the magnitude of what they do not know.
Frequently this results in serious breakdown's in communication and serious misunderstandings.
It may often be necessary to introduce one or more people with intermediate levels of knowledge and experience to act as an interface between the highly experienced and knowledgeable person and the neophyte.
This is required because the highly knowledgeable person has generally forgotten what they did not know when they were at a basic level of knowledge and experience and they therefore omit to communicate essential basic principles without which the neophyte cannot progress.
I encounter this phenomenon in a very pronounced way amongst believers particularly amongst people who have a very simplistic or even fundamentally incorrect understanding of a particular area of doctrine (teaching).
Rather than considering the possibility that there is something significant they do not know they insist on hammering away at other people who are trying to communicate something abstract and complicated.
In order to avoid getting into the trap that results, I have found the following to be very useful:
1) Believe the BEST of the other person (part of loving your neighbour, 1 Corinthians 13).
2) Seek understanding, ask questions directed at gaining knowledge and understanding of why the other person is saying or writing what they are.
3) Do not judge others or attribute mal intent or motive when you do not know.
4) If you are really certain you are correct then there IS a responsibility to tell others BUT check first.
I have recently experienced a number of situations where people have challenged me on various points. I have found that as much as I tell them that I once believed what they believe, that I have prayed for years in some cases and read the book {bible} repeatedly before reaching my current conclusions these people insist on making statements based on their lack of understanding, what they don't know, about what I am saying.
When someone gets into that position, I personally have found it to be almost impossible to shift them with the result that the situation can easily deteriorate into unpleasantness.
I don't have an answer to such situations other than to suggest that we ALL evaluate what we don't know about another person's position BEFORE we take up a dogmatic stance.
One of the tragedies of the present age is the enormous number of sincere believers who are holding onto GROSS ERROR on the basis of some experience of Grace by the Almighty that leads them to conclude that their current knowledge is definitive and accurate, much like a child holds onto a loose tooth because the tooth is familiar.
The Almighty is challenging us ALL to seek the STRONG MEAT of His Words, His Kingdom, His Truths, etc. That requires that we revisit all that we have been taught and seek to understand what options there are for correction today.
Warm regards and blessings
[MAKERATING]
The comment feature is locked by administrator.
Return