Diana Monterrubio holds the position of Global Procurement Director at Teleperformance, her focus is Hardware and Software procurement. With over ten years of experience, she has been published by Procurement magazine and has spoken as keynote speaker for Procurement and Supply Chain Live in London. She has also appeared in vendor owned channels to discuss women in the tech industry and enjoys bringing sensible tech procurement tips to people of all income levels. She currently lives in Guadalajara, Mexico.
In an era driven by information, the thirst for knowledge is unquenchable. I look back at the last few years of my career and I have noticed how slowly but surely the last few years have been about accumulating facts, data, and skills. For the latter, I started questioning myself in ways I had not in the past, I have started to meditate on how it’s crucial to pause and reflect on the relative importance of knowledge and wisdom in our lives, we gather all types of knowledge on our devices: Videos, books, articles, and the list just keeps on getting larger but, are we getting smarter? Wiser? Are we becoming overloaded brains of data but no wisdom? . professional growth is important, however, I keep on coming back to the same opinion: Emotional intelligence is far more important that other types intelligence, we can know data but, do we understand how far our data goes? Are we sagacious enough to understand where it comes from and most important, where it is heading? Before I carry on with the questions that come to mind, I would like to define a couple of key facts:
What is Knowledge?
Knowledge is the collection of facts, information, and skills acquired through experience or education. It’s the groundwork for our actions and decisions. Today, knowledge is more accessible than ever, thanks to the internet, academic institutions, and various learning platforms. But does accumulating more knowledge automatically make us better decision-makers or more insightful individuals?
What is Wisdom?
Wisdom is the ability to make sound judgments and decisions based on experience and insight. Unlike knowledge, wisdom is often less tangible and harder to quantify. It involves a nuanced understanding of situations, empathy, and an awareness of the broader implications of one’s actions. Wisdom is not just about knowing what to do but understanding when and how to do it.
Knowledge vs Wisdom: The Key Differences
Application: Knowledge tells you the rules; wisdom tells you when to break them.
Timing: Knowledge is knowing what to say; wisdom is knowing when to say it.
Depth: Knowledge can be learned from a textbook; wisdom often comes from lived experience.
Universality: Knowledge can be universally applied; wisdom is often context sensitive.
Wisdom comes as a consequence of understanding data, its power and the responsibility we hold by owning certain information. It provides the framework for applying knowledge effectively. It is up to us to decide how we use the information we possess and most importantly, how we use it to better understand the world around us. As we continue to amass information, let us not forget the importance that emotional intelligence plays in our lives: Miles Kington aptly put it, “Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit; wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.”