Wisdom vs. Knowledge

Posted on March 22, 2012 by Lauren Chalfont, Public Relations Coordinator, Disney Institute
With smart phones and search engines, the ability to gather information is virtually limitless. With just a few key strokes, you can answer almost any question. But does that mean you have wisdom? 

At a recent staff meeting a member of our team discussed the difference between knowledge and wisdom. Younger generations can acquire knowledge rapidly because of the fast paced world in which they were raised. Wisdom, however, can’t be instantly acquired. Wisdom takes time to acquire and comes from experiences, mentoring and quality relationships. Older generations have the ability to share their wisdom to guide younger generations in ways that a search engine will never be able to.

At Disney, we believe you need both wisdom and knowledge to be a successful leader. Both younger and older generations have the ability to share with each other. The healthy balance of blending wisdom and knowledge ensures today’s leaders understand the latest technology while tomorrow’s leaders are being prepared for future roles.



Posted in Selection, Training, Engagement | Tagged Wisdom, Knowledge, Generations

1 Responses to Wisdom vs. Knowledge

  • Derek says:
    on April 07, 2012

    Great point about appreciating both wisdom and knowledge! I'm finding that an unfortunate byproduct from the speed of business today is that it's easy to forget lessons that are learned along the way. Deadlines are tight, responsibilities are constantly expanding, and breaks between projects seem to be nonexistent. My New Year's Resolution was to start a success journal so I could write down these lessons along the way and hopefully build a book of wisdom. It sits on my desk and I've told myself that I'm not allowed to stack anything on top of it (it get a VIP parking spot). A few times a week, I'll pause for a quick break to read through the journal to refresh my memory and to see if there are any new tips that need to be logged in. I'm proud to say that this is the first New Year's Resolution that I've actually stuck with!

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