Do You Know, What You Don’t Know?

Vivek Kumar
Mar 27, 2021
4 min read

Knowledge is an infinite universe which one can keep exploring throughout their life and still uncover only a small portion of it. Moreover, the knowledge space keeps on exploding like solar flares in the sun.

It is therefore important for everyone to visualize the extent of knowledge one has and what needs to be acquired to fulfil one’s dreams. To maximize the outcome, knowledge acquisition has to be done in a planned manner, maintaining the right focus, while keeping the larger picture in mind.

The complete knowledge landscape can be visualized in four major subsets, as below.

Do you know, what you know?

This is the knowledge you normally use in your current role to deliver the expected outcomes from that role. The role of an individual in current context is not limited to professional assignments, but extends to personal relationships and social responsibilities as well.

The knowledge being used for these current roles must have been acquired over time during school, college, service, and business through formal or informal learning.

The success of a person depends on how much and how fast one can expand this knowledge base – but in an orderly manner. For this, one needs to first define short term and long-term goals, and then look for related knowledge in the identified space. That will help in ensuring one spends their time and effort for rightful purpose, which may be of immediate use.

Do you know, what you don't know?

This is a crucial space one needs to work on in a systematic manner not only for delivering current roles effectively but also to prepare oneself for future roles. Although there would be infinite number of things which you don’t know, identifying those which “you don’t know but should know” in an ongoing manner, can have far-reaching impact on your success.

For this you need to dig deeper into what more is required for your current role and what additional knowledge you need to get for fulfilling future aspirations. This can be done with help of a coach or mentor, who can provide guidance in identifying the same. As you identify these requirements, they become part of “ knowing, what you don’t know” but would like to know. As this is a focused requirement for delivering better results in present and near future, this can be immediately applied post acquiring, for getting best possible results. As one acquires this knowledge, the “You know what you know” space expands.

There needs to be a continuous effort of trying to “know what you don’t know” but need to know, so that you can strengthen your profile on an ongoing basis and keep progressing on your growth path. This directly helps in continuous enrichment of one's profile, thereby fueling growth.

You don't know, what you know?

This is another critical space to work on, as it is immediately available potential, which remains untapped because you don’t even know that you possess many capabilities, which you have not put to use so far. This does not involve putting efforts to acquire additional knowledge or skills, but identifying that you already have them and start using them.

There is a famous story in Indian mythology, where Lord Hanuman forgets all his strengths because of curse given by a sage. Later, in war against Ravana, he didn’t know that he was strong enough to cross the ocean and fight alone with army of Ravana. This was the phase when he “didn’t know what he knew”. Only when another great warrior named Jamavant reminded Hanuman of his hidden potential, it took no time for him to cross the ocean, fight with big army and burn down the enemy palace.

This happens with many people and is also reflected in form of displaying low self-worth or lack of confidence. But when they are made aware about their capabilities and provided little support, they come out with exemplary results.

In an organizational context, one of the critical responsibilities of a Team Leader is also to hand-hold team members in certain complex tasks and then leave them to perform the same on their own. In this process, team members end up realizing some of their capabilities, which they had but were not using so far, and start gainfully using them.

In individual context, this involves breaking your comfort zone and trying to do more than what you think you can normally do. Sometimes taking a risk and chartering in unchartered territories may lead to unexpected outcomes and then you get surprised that "Oh, I didn't know that I knew this, or I could do this!"

The more I live, the more I learn. The more I learn, the more I realize, the less I know – Michel Legrand

You don't know, what you don't know?

This is an infinite space which can be endlessly tapped by everyone for more and more knowledge. From an individual point of view, it is critical to realize the existence of a large quantum of knowledge which one doesn’t know, as this helps in “emptying the cup”, where one can fill more.

The “I know it all” attitude becomes huge impediment in further growth of a person. It is, therefore, important to see that one does not suffer from this kind of attitude and always maintains a learning mindset.