3 key benefits of knowledge sharing with team members (with examples)
While the saying "knowledge is power" resonates with us all, there's an often overlooked truth: true power lies in sharing that knowledge.
,,Sharing is power’’
After all, knowledge only holds its full potential when shared with others. When knowledge becomes exclusive to a single person, it stifles growth and inhibits the progress of both individuals and businesses alike.
What’s actually knowledge sharing?
Knowledge sharing is defined as the exchange of knowledge between employees in your company. However, that lame definition does not accurately describe what it does.
Before we dive deeper into the article, spare 4 minutes to watch the Ted Talk by Stanley McChrystal, the former commander of U.S. and International forces in Afghanistan.
Start at 4:40
Stanley McChrystal: The military case for sharing knowledge
"You find that information is only of value if you give it to people who have the ability to do something with it. The fact that I know something has zero value if I'm not the person who can actually make something better because of it...instead of knowledge is power… sharing is power."
If we explore more seriously, knowledge sharing in the workplace would represent a process of creating a space for open communication about joint successes, common problems, and plans that employees make together. It’s implemented by organizations with guidelines that streamline knowledge-sharing exchanges and validate them by providing continuous encouragement.
Organizations that do it really well have a culture of knowledge where employees are motivated to share what they know with others instead of hoarding it.
How does information differ from knowledge?
Let's set the stage by clarifying a fundamental distinction before we embark on the captivating journey of knowledge sharing.
At its core, information is the raw data or details of something, while knowledge delves deeper. It encompasses the richness of experience, the contextual understanding, and the insights gained from utilizing that data.
It's like the difference between a puzzle piece and the completed picture it reveals.
Imagine yourself as a musician, holding an instrument in hand, ready to play a complex composition. You may have the sheet music in front of you, but without the guidance of a skilled conductor or the experience of musicians who have practiced and perfected the piece, you would struggle to interpret the nuances, timing, and dynamics required to create a captivating performance.
Knowledge sharing orchestrates a harmonious symphony within your organization, allowing employees to not just play the notes but infuse their performance with the collective wisdom of those who have mastered the melody!
Knowledge Sharing Secrets - Strategies for building Unicorn team
Businesses lose a whopping $31.5 billion each year because they don't share knowledge and resources with their employees, as several studies have found. This effect is even more in small teams where each member plays a crucial role.
3 key benefits of sharing knowledge (with examples)
Sharing knowledge with team members has numerous benefits that contribute to the overall success and growth of the team and organization.
Here are three key benefits along with examples:
Improved Collaboration and Efficiency
When team members share knowledge, it enhances collaboration and boosts efficiency by leveraging collective expertise. For instance:
- A marketing team member shares insights about a successful campaign strategy they implemented, enabling the rest of the team to replicate the approach in future campaigns. This leads to improved marketing effectiveness and better results.
- A software development team member shares the coding technique they learned, enabling others to adopt it. This accelerates development speed and improves code quality.
Enhancing Problem-Solving and Innovation
Sharing knowledge among team members fosters a culture of problem-solving and innovation. By pooling together diverse perspectives and experiences, new ideas emerge, and challenges are tackled more effectively. Examples include:
- During a brainstorming session, a team member shares a unique approach they encountered on a previous project. This inspires the team to explore innovative solutions.
- A team member shares a valuable lesson learned from a failed experiment, helping others avoid the same mistakes and encouraging a culture of continuous improvement.
Increased Adaptability and Resilience
By sharing knowledge, team members become more adaptable and resilient, capable of handling changing circumstances and overcoming obstacles. This benefit is particularly evident in the following scenarios:
- A team member shares their expertise in a new technology or tool, ensuring the team stays up-to-date with industry trends and can quickly adapt to evolving requirements.
- During a team meeting, a team member shares their experience of managing conflicts. They provide practical advice on resolving interpersonal issues and fostering a harmonious work environment.
Overall, sharing knowledge with team members is important for several reasons:
It deepens understanding by providing valuable context, shedding light on what's happening behind the scenes.
It revolutionizes internal communication, establishing channels that facilitate seamless information exchange.
It sparks innovation, igniting fresh ideas and groundbreaking concepts.
Examples of knowledge-sharing-oriented workplaces
Organizations have implemented various strategies to foster knowledge sharing, leading to remarkable employee development and significant benefits for their businesses.
Let's explore two distinctive examples of successful knowledge-sharing initiatives.
Cooley, a renowned global law firm housing 1,500 lawyers, thrives on intricate legal work. To facilitate knowledge sharing, Cooley adopts a mentorship approach by pairing new lawyers with their experienced counterparts. This strategic pairing not only expedites the onboarding process but also enhances its effectiveness, enabling new hires to quickly grasp essential knowledge. Through this mentorship experience, seasoned mentors offer invaluable insights, enabling younger lawyers to accelerate their learning beyond traditional on-the-job training or formal programs. 95 percent of Cooley's employees consider it an exceptional workplace.
In the realm of self-driving car manufacturing, Cruise Automation faces the challenge of disseminating specialized engineering knowledge about autonomous vehicles. To democratize this vital knowledge and foster an innovation culture, Cruise Automation organizes monthly meetings where engineers discuss and exchange ideas. This knowledge-sharing platform not only facilitates expertise sharing but also prepares employees for internal advancement opportunities. Participants in this program have highlighted its ability to foster a dynamic learning environment. This is where individuals of diverse skill levels and backgrounds can learn from one another.
These unique approaches to knowledge sharing have propelled Cooley and Cruise Automation to new heights, empowering their employees and promoting continuous learning within their organizations.
Share your knowledge effectively using the browser extension Collabwriting
Now that we have highlighted the 3 benefits of knowledge sharing, it is time to offer you a way to implement it in your organization.
The Collabwriting extension – your organization's key to efficient and impactful knowledge sharing. Say goodbye to scattered information and welcome a streamlined collaboration approach. With Collabwriting, you can effortlessly collect, store, and share knowledge with your team, all in one place. No more juggling dozens of open tabs or losing track of important research. The extension serves as your actionable knowledge base, allowing you to seamlessly gather data, ideas, and references. But it doesn't stop there.
Collabwriting - Shareable Notes on Web Pages and PDFs
Collabwriting allows you to gather all your online sources in one place. Just highlight, save, and collaborate with anyone on any content you find online.
Collabwriting empowers you to create a shareable and searchable system, making information easily accessible. Experience the transformative power of collaboration as you receive valuable feedback and engage in seamless teamwork. Unleash the full potential of your team's collective intelligence with Collabwriting, revolutionizing knowledge sharing within your organization.
Together, let's enhance productivity, foster innovation, and push your organization to new heights.