“Knowledge Economy” is now marked as the latest stage of development in the global economic restructuring. Since the beginning of the human race, human beings’ primary occupation has evolved from being a hunter-gatherer to a farmer to an industrial worker and finally to a “Knowledge Worker” in the current era.
Peter Drucker’s work in the 1950s and 1960s coined the term “Knowledge Workers” to refer to people who created value with their heads, not their hands. They think for a living, and their primary capital is knowledge. They apply theory and analytics or otherwise high-level knowledge to develop services or products. Knowledge Workers acquire, create, disseminate and use knowledge for facilitating economic and social development.
Essential Characteristics
Knowledge work is complex, along with familiarity with actual and theoretical knowledge, “Knowledge Workers” need to master specific skills and abilities to succeed. Listed below are non-comprehensive but essential characteristics to be a successful knowledge worker.
- Continuous Learning
- Communication
- Logical/Analytical Thinking
- Agility
- Creativity
- Collaboration
- Individual Responsibility
- Self Motivation
Continuous Learning
Knowledge is the primary capital of a Knowledge Worker. Continuous learning and keeping oneself updated is what allows a Knowledge worker to increase their capital. Constant learning is what is needed not just to be successful but also to remain relevant in their disciplines. Knowledge workers must invest in their education actively.
Communication
As thinking is the primary process in which Knowledge Workers produce value, they need to communicate the outcomes of the process with their peers, managers, learners, customers, and others involved to achieve the goals. They need to make logical contentions and build cases that demonstrate the value of what they know to others. Successful Knowledge workers can present their ideas clearly, both in verbal and written form. They can also listen with understanding and ask for necessary clarifications when they lack clarity.
Logical/Analytical Thinking
Knowledge Workers need to apply both convergent and divergent thinking to answer all the simple and complex questions that arise in daily work. Logical and Analytical thinking needs to be applied to the basic knowledge/data to develop services or products that add value to themselves and society.
Agility
The nature of information is that it is constantly changing. Knowledge workers must adapt to change, remain agile in the face of new challenges and improvements in technology.
Creativity
To solve complex problems, Knowledge workers must be good at both problem seeking and thinking outside the box to solve those problems.
Collaboration
Very few people can work by themselves and achieve great results. Knowledge workers need to collaborate effectively with others, including workers from different disciplines, to set and accomplish higher goals, make decisions and generate new ideas.
Individual Responsibility
As the primary work happens within the knowledge worker’s mind, it is of significant importance that Knowledge workers manage themselves. Knowledge workers must have great self-discipline and should be able to work relatively independently.
Self Motivation
The nature of knowledge work requires continual growth. To be successful, Knowledge workers must remain interested in finding new information and applying that information to their work.
Conclusion
Just as the industrial revolution did not end agriculture because people have to eat, the knowledge revolution has not ended the industrial revolution as people need physical goods and services.
As the highly qualified workforce increases and the supply of knowledge workers grows, mastering the above skills and characteristics will allow individuals to stand out, accomplish higher goals, and succeed in their missions.
The upcoming blog posts will investigate these characteristics and provide insights into nurturing and developing them.