Knowledge is Power…When Shared

By Brian GormanPublished On: September 13th, 2018

In this short but important TED talk (The Military Case for Sharing Knowledge), General Stanley McChrystal challenges a paradigm that displays itself not only in the military, but in organizations of every type. As change practitioners, one of the more frequent tests that we face is the siloed nature of our clients. Knowledge is power echoes from top to bottom of each silo, but the walls tend to be impermeable. It is possible that it even echoes within the change teams we are a part of as well.

McChrystal tells the story of capturing classified information on the battlegrounds of Iraq, and the decision that drove a culture shift from knowledge is power to sharing is power. “We had to change the culture of information…from ‘Who needs to know?’ to ‘Who doesn’t know?’ and tell them as quickly as possible.

Why was this shift so important on the battlefields of Iraq? McChrystal states it this way. “Information is only valuable if you give it to people who have the ability to do something with it.”

How important is it that your clients shift their culture regarding silos and the sharing of information? How important is it that you and your change team do likewise with others who are engaged in supporting and executing the initiatives that you are engaged on?

Photo by Jaredd Craig on Unsplash

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About the Author: Brian Gorman

Brian Gorman is the Managing Editor of Change Management Review™. In this capacity he regularly curates articles of importance to our readership; contributes original writing; hosts podcasts; and works with guest authors. For more than five decades Brian has been engaged in—and a student of—change at the personal, organizational, and societal levels. During this time, he has worked with both individuals and organizations (ranging from solo practitioners to Fortune 100 businesses), guiding them through a wide array of challenges. Decades of experience have given him a deep appreciation of the universal patterns that underlie successfully navigating even the most difficult changes. In addition to his work as our Managing Editor, Brian is a transformation coach, supporting both individual and organizational change. Brian is committed to passing his “lessons learned” on to others, so that their change journeys can advance more smoothly. He is a frequent workshop facilitator and public speaker. Brian is the author of “The Hero and the Sherpa,” a chapter in the online Handbook of Personal and Organizational Transformation (Springer Publishing; Judi Neal, Editor). He also has an extensive library of blog posts, articles, and videos on the change journey, including “The Ten Most Important Lessons I Have Learned Over 50 Years of Engaging Change.” Mr. Gorman’s formal education includes a BA in Cultural Anthropology from Syracuse University, an MA in Higher Education Administration from the University of Texas, San Antonio and an MA in Human Relations from the University of Oklahoma. Brian is an International Coach Federation (ICF) certified coach, and is an active member in the New York City chapter. Brian is also a member of the Forbes Coaches Council and the Gay Coaches Alliance.