Juicy Words

Some Thoughts About Knowledge Management

Picture a man at the train station. I found this example on the Internet about the difference between data, information and knowledge. The train tables on the station show data about train schedules. The way the data is presented produces information informing users about the train departures, etc. Knowledge however is produced by the person in front of this schedule, knowing from experience that a certain train will arrive first, even though it left later. (a free translation of: www.hemmis.be/producten/emaserver/emaserverkendata.htm)

“What do you want?” You’ve probably heard this question enough when searching for a career. Knowledge management starts when you have to find your first job and knowledge management will keep you company when moving forward with ever next step. For every question - what do I want - you will think about; what do I have? What are my capabilities and competences?

Simple. There are many careers that are quite transparent; most medical careers, accounting and to a lesser extent law. Many other careers are much more ambiguous. You may study engineering but favor a sales oriented job. It is easy if you know what you want, but when you are in front of the gate of the university, you are not aware of the destination.

Knowledge management. Knowledge management is just taking care of this gap between wish and reality, between the future and now. Knowledge management is about coming into action, because you know what you want (to achieve). For a company this is not really different although that there are many individuals in a group that is moving into same direction. Nobody really knows into what direction exactly and what knowledge is therefore suitable.

Learning. Continuous learning seems one solution of bridging knowledge gaps. As long as you are eager to learn you will get there in the end (and hopefully a bit sooner). But learning is not always the solution. First of all it is expensive. Secondly it requires a sequential process; first you learn than you do. First we go to school, and then we start working. Besides that, learning doesn’t always trigger new actions. And that is in the end what a company needs. Action.

On the job. On the job learning is a best practice that has proven itself worthy. One disadvantage of this style is that the knowledge gaining process is merely implicit; you know what seems to work well, but your organization (you) doesn’t know why. And if you do not know why, you can’t judge either whether this - way - is applicable in another environment.

Exchanging experiences. We all know the example of someone who joins a new organization, bringing in new knowledge. Valuable knowledge. But this new employee also needs to learn a lot about the way this organization functions. There is a mismatch. But that is not too much of a problem as long as there is a will to cooperate and to share ideas how things were done on either side.

Bottom line. What matters therefore is not the amount of knowledge that people carry with them, but the “amount” of attitude in which they are willing to share this. Knowing this; If you are to manage knowledge you do not have to focus on knowledge as content, but mostly on the way this knowledge process takes place. Then you can also be confident that the man who is standing in front of the time tables is not alone.

© 2006 Hans Bool

Hans Bool is the founder of Astor White a traditional management consulting company that offers online management advice. Astor Online solves issues in hours what normally would take days.
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Ten Tips to Dealing with Burnout and Panic Attacks

Heightened anxiety, or better known as panic attack, is a normal occurrence. Normal in the sense that it is accepted as a part of our daily activities. It can go beyond normal though and anxiety is a form of depressive illness

Anxiety is not that bad though. It keeps us primed, as if it trains us to be always on our toes. It also keeps us psychologically alert. These exercises can be good but to a certain extent or limit only. Beyond the limit, things may start to get nasty.

When we are engulfed with a bout of panic attack, we have one of two choices. We can either face it or get away from it. This is better known as the fight/flight response. Given a choice, would you face panic attack and experience its full impact, or would you rather retreat or run away from it?

Read these 10 tips to reduce your stressed life before you find yourself with that terrible burnout feeling.

1. Take time out to savor the fresh scent of nature, especially flowers. The sight and the fragrance that flowers bring can be great relief to a tired, irritated, or dragged feeling. If you love nature, nothing is more invigorating than flowers and plants. If you don’t have a garden you could visit a place that does.

2. Is your burnout a result of doing something you don’t like to do, yet you have to face it just the same. Picture in your mind an image that you like to do and push aside the image to the thing you don’t like to do.

This strategy of imagery helps to lessen the tiring weight of the thing you get stressed about acting upon. In the process, your task gets done with less resistance on your part. Before you even know it, the job is already done and probably with favorable results.

3. Try ginseng. Ginseng is an energy food. Most health food stores sell it. You can either take it as a tea drink or mix it in your cooking for a wholesome meal. Ginseng comes in a variety of strengths. If you’re not very familiar with it, just ask at your health food store and they will gladly help you out.

4. . A burnout can be equated to an individual who could use a time out from the hustles of life. This is similar to a coach of a basketball team asking for a time out to come up with a winning game plan when his team is not playing at its peak. Take advantage of this time out to meditate and relax those frenzied nerves. Do it today !

5. Empty your mind! Pick up and round up useful memories and discard those damaging emotions and negative thoughts.

6. Get out of your normal routine if you feel in a rut. Go on a picnic with the family, a camping trip out in the woods, or a weekend adventure to a totally different are or environment.

7. Listen to relaxing music. It lifts us emotionally. You may want to choose specific sounds that can relieve a person from burnout with soothing sounds.Something that is personal to you. The sounds of the sea rolling ashore gently,classical tunes etc

8. Indulge yourself. If you come home exhausted from work and feel like sitting in a bath for an hour - do it !
Give yourself something to look forward to.It need not involve spending alot of money either.

9. It is important to identify what causes your stress or a panic attack. Equally important is to think in a positive way. If your mind has room for negative thoughts like doomsday and the like, your mind must also have room for positive thoughts to find ways of preventing or minimizing destruction.

Actually, you must find ways for your positive thoughts to dominate your negative thoughts. To do this, you have to exercise your mind by telling it to “Think positive! Think positive!” In due time, improvements in positive mental attitude will prosper over any negative thoughts.

10. Positive expectation in life.Be careful to guard your thoughts. “What’s going to happen next?” Will I be like one of those victims that suffer all the time Will I be spared from future disasters?” These questions would most likely race through your mind, with one common denominator - they are negatively inclined. Go out with happy expectation , not negative nightmare. Don’t look at a neighbour’s, or friend’s lifestyle and feel envious. Ask yourself how you could live the same.Or be happy as you are with the life you have.

Anxiety or burnout can bring on a prolonged episode of uneasiness and fear, leading to a panic attack. A panic attack is a state of mind, an apprehension. There is no way a person will experience a brush on something like a heart attack, a coma, or even death because a panic attack is not life threatening.

There is never a recorded case of a person who has died as a result of panic attack. Rest your mind to the fact that panic attack is not a physical ailment, even with the physical manifestations like sweating, palpitations, stomach cramps, and all that. You will be able to face and experience its full impact without any life-threatening effects. However, long term without some form of medical assistance there will be a negative effect on your mental and physical health.

For more related information visit: http://www.AnxietyAttacksCure.com - a site that offers advice for avoiding, coping with anxiety and panic attacks. Get professional knowledge on dealing with symptoms, drug side effects and improving your life!