Delroy ChuckDelroy Chuck
IN A knowledge-based, information-driven, and globalised society, I certainly believe knowledge, skill and talent are important, and much more important than
natural resources, material wealth or anything that can easily disappear with time, luck or a wrong judgement.
I was, therefore, taken aback to see an interesting headline: 'Caribbean puts too high a value on knowledge'.
After reading the comments of Dr. Lucien Naarden, the Surinamese-born master trainer, I must admit he has a point.
"It's not what we know," according to Dr. Naarden, "it's what we do, and what we think."
KNOWLEDGE APPLIED
Dr. Naarden is correct. Knowledge and skills are not enough; it is how we use, assess and manage them that make the difference.
Attitudes and performance, Dr. Naarden stressed, are more important to achieve than mere knowledge and skill.
He notes that: "Knowledge and skill contribute only five percent to performance, activities contribute 15 per cent and attitudes contribute 80 per cent."
While we may disagree with the relative percentages, unless we engage in action with the right attitude, we cannot easily achieve success and progress.
To be sure, natural resources and talent are of little value until they are mined, exploited, marketed and made useful in the marketplace.
Isn't it interesting that the countries with the most natural resources have not provided the best quality of life? In reality, it is the countries that have the knowledge and skills to use and add value to the natural resources that benefit most.
Japan, China, Singapore and other Asian Tigers, with limited or no natural resources, are manufacturing and innovating with raw material from around the world for the global marketplace.
They use their knowledge and strong labour performance to outsell and gain competitive advantage over the rest of the world.
EMPHASIS ON CREATIVITY
In the same manner, knowledge gained and skills acquired are of little value perhaps only of personal value until they are used, preferably in a creative and innovative manner, and for the benefit of others.
Consider our labour market, especially the public service. The employees know what is to be done but how many have the right attitude and perform efficiently to satisfy the needs of the public?
In spite of mission statements in every government department, except for a few executive agencies, the attitude of the average government employee is wrong and the public suffers greatly.
Most employees do not lack knowledge or skills in doing their job. They lack the friendly, accommodating attitude and efficient, best performance that can lift their department, enrich their institution and ultimately benefit everyone.
To be sure, educational institutions are the main incubators and resources for knowledge and skills but what is sadly lacking in most is the emphasis on thinking, creativity and innovation.
They become factories for accumulating and disseminating information and professional disciplines instead of character building, training people to think and demanding the right attitude of graduates to impart and dispense at the workplace.
MASTER MATHEMATICS
Interestingly, when I studied special mathematics at UWI, I found it tedious and abstract and could not appreciate how I could ever use the information and skills I acquired from courses in complex analysis and the theory of differential equations.
To their great credit, my UWI mathematics lecturers emphasised that the courses were not meant to have any immediate practical application, but were designed to improve and sharpen the intellect and thinking qualities of students.
Every student should study and master mathematics. It improves thinking, inspires analytical skills and expands the creative imagination, which are mental attributes that are severely lacking in most of our media commentators, political fanatics and, sadly, educators.
Proficiency in mathematics, which demands reasoning and mental calculation, can make all the difference to a student's future success and progress in life.
DOERS INSTEAD OF PROFILERS
In truth, it is not the person who knows the most who is the best student, employee or leader it is the one who uses what he knows creatively and constructively.
As a former teacher and lecturer for over 25 years, I can assert that it is not the students who know the most that get the better grades, but the ones who use the knowledge and skill acquired to make their points and arguments well.
I find the same experience at the workplace the people who are most helpful and move up the corporate and professional ladder are not the brightest and best but those with the right attitude, perform well and are doers instead of profilers.
Delroy Chuck is an attorney-at-law and Opposition Member of Parliament. He can be
contacted by email at Delchuck@Hotmail.Com.
