By E. Brown

The Web is a tremendous place for information, but is that all it is good for?

INFORMATION:

  1. Knowledge derived from study, experience, or instruction.
  2. Knowledge of specific events or situations that has been gathered or received by communication; intelligence or news.
  3. A collection of facts or data: statistical information.
  4. The act of informing or the condition of being informed; communication of knowledge. Progression from Information to Application.

As leaders, mentors, and equippers, I feel more so now than ever that employees, peers, and people in general are hungry for and need inspiration.

INSPIRATION:

  1. Stimulation of the mind or emotions to a high level of feeling or activity.
  2. An agency, such as a person or work of art, that moves the intellect or emotions or prompts action or invention.
  3. Something, such as a sudden creative act or idea, that is inspired.
  4. The quality of inspiring or exalting: a painting full of inspiration.
  5. Divine guidance or influence exerted directly on the mind and soul of humankind.

It is one thing to be “emotionally moved” but do nothing — it is quite another to be moved into action. The proverbial “rubber meets the road” when we actual apply what we’ve learned and been inspired by. This is hard and in some cases takes courage, but in order to benefit those around us as well as ourselves, we need to put our inspirations into action.

Consequently, the key to any learning, teaching, mentoring, managing endeavor is application.

APPLICATION:

  1. The act of applying.
  2. The act of putting something to a special use or purpose: an application of a new method.
  3. A specific use to which something is put: the application of science to industry.
  4. The capacity of being usable; relevance: Geometry has practical application in aviation and navigation.
  5. Close attention; diligence.

The Servant Leader by Ken BlanchardAuthors Ken Blanchard and Phil Hodges recognized some of these very same things in their book, The Servant Leader. If you haven’t read it, check it out.

Isn’t time we moved from our heads to our hearts and then to our hands?

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