I CAME across a reference to this quote this week while doing research on how knowledge is digested and disseminated as wisdom.
That is what leaders do, if they must talk sensibly and not just blabber Martian doctrine.
Communicators and philosophers are agreed that wisdom is internally processed or digested knowledge to have practical and useful value.
Epictitus, an ancient Philosopher illustrated his understanding of the process and application of knowledge into wisdom in this manner: “For even sheep do not vomit up their grass and show to the shepherds how much they have eaten; but when they have internally digested the pasture, they produce externally wool and milk. Do you also show not your theorems to the uninstructed, but show the acts which come from their digestion.”
What does this have to do with leaders and wisdom?
There are a lot of knowledgeable leaders, many of them are smart.
In the field of science, some of the leaders can rattle you off with theorems and the composition of the physically visible and the unseen.
Spiritual leaders can quote doctrine like some Christian ministers do with scripture.
Many leaders have advanced degrees in law, the sciences, and the arts. They occupy top positions in government and private institutions.
Knowledgeable leaders impress bosses, peers, and subordinates with what they know.
But what is knowledge, but the accumulation and regurgitation of data and information. Unless these are digested to mean anything or produce a good outcome, is it helpful?
Such is wisdom, the gathering and digesting of grass to produce wool or complete food, like milk, which is useful for the sustenance of quality existence.
It is good for leaders to know facts and figures, principles, theorems, and quote the great thinkers, but so what?
A good minister preached about pain and suffering. His sermon was impressive, well-researched, and delivered with great drama.
I’d rather have someone who has experience on the subject, talk about it, along with the lessons from his/her experience, apply it to the current situation, and then describe the way forward out of the problem.
I heard a technocrat describing a breed of animals being unproductive. He was proposing a need to invest in more productive breeds of livestock.
But a farmer who has experienced growing the same breed of livestock that the technocrat described as unproductive says otherwise. Agreeing that good breeds are important, the farmer believes that what is more important is how the animals are managed for meat or milk purposes. In the final analysis, how you feed and care for your livestock determines the best returns for the business, he said.
Wisdom is having the humility to process experiences together with your people so that together, you can push forward, or learning from them, you know when to back off with your plans.
According to the experts, wisdom is about knowing right from wrong and knowing your self well.
It is allowing smarter people to work with or for you so you can do your job better.
Wisdom takes a lifetime. It is an investment from both success and failure. Necessarily, one must study and reflect from past experiences and the lessons that they bring for us to learn.
We need wise leaders. Be one of them.
As a leader, there are many ways you can acquire wisdom. One way is to find good mentors and coaches who will guide you.
You can also think about the examples of the leaders you admire and those you can’t stand. If you have gone through life with them, use their examples to improve your own leadership abilities.
As a leader of great wisdom, you will always have something to say to your generation.