The Toastmaster’s International communication manuals are arguably the greatest public speaking manuals in the world.  Yet, if you study speaking from the manual, you will find them to be flat.  Even boring. The Toastmasters educational program succeeds because people make it interesting.

Knowledge is personal.  The masters of any field personally interpret what they know.  A seeker of knowledge should study with a teacher, someone who has studied before.  Sensei, the Japanese word for teacher, means, “Born before you.” The best approach to expand what one knows is to work with a master on the subject.  Every teacher has a uniquely personal approach to knowledge.

If I studied with Jay Leno and Jerry Seinfeld, I would learn some of the secrets to stand-up comedy.  Every master of his or her field has a rhythm and interpretation of knowledge that is different from the other masters. The knowledge of great masters is shared at a personal level.

Knowledge is transferred between people by connecting, holding conversations, observing the expertise in action, and testing nuances.  The brilliant student will invest time in the relationship.  If the master does not willingly share knowledge, the student will learn slowly, or not at all. Frequently, the student must serve the master with personal attention beyond the costs of learning. The student supports the master through involvement, service, and attention to details.

For most things that we learn, knowledge is personal. Knowledge depends on who and how individuals participate (Von Krogh, Ichijo & Nonaka, 2000).

Knowledge requires interpretation. Interpretation from an experienced teacher shows the student which factors are the most important, and how to work with limited resources. Knowledge is much more than information, it includes the guided hand of an experienced practitioner.

If you were to apprentice with a master in another century, you would begin by offering humble personal service.  You might live in the home of the master, and learn about the values and way of life that support the way of life of the expert. A student of calligraphy might clean brushes and prepare the studio. Through contact with the master, a student is guided to take the correct steps, how to hold one’s hand, and prepared with the right mental attitude that accompanies work with ink.

The makers of fine musical instruments typically hold very specialized knowledge that are shared by the masters with a select group of apprentice craftsmen.  This is true for the Stradivarius and Guarneri, two families located in northern Italy who refined their knowledge of instrument creation.  The Guarneri produced violins and other string instruments for 136 years in Mantua and Venice. Knowledge was passed from generation to generation, and shared with a few able colleagues.

I knew a father and son string maker in California; their name brand held some esteem in the West Coast musical community. Although lower cost instruments are made in Chinese factories today, the instruments are not prized for the quality of their workmanship.

Given the right tools, any observant artisan might make a violin. However, the masters of the craft transmit insight to students, offer alternate strategies, and show a student how to avoid costly errors. The master teacher expands the understanding of the subject: not just “how to do it” but also “why is this important?” and “how do I do this best.”

The cutting edge of knowledge is usually personal.  Great teachers share more than just information, they convey insight and meaning with their knowledge.  If you seek mastery, choose to learn with a master of the field. You cannot learn the secrets of the experts by studying from a book.

Reference

von Krogh, G., K. Ichijo, and I. Nonaka.2000. Enabling Knowledge Creation N.Y.: Oxford.