The Formula for Closing Knowledge Gaps

Here is the “magic” formula for closing the knowledge gap from where you are to where you want to be!

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Closing Knowledge Gaps: Target Knowledge Level equals Current Knowledge Level plus LS x FS x DP x DTI x Y.
  • Start by tightening the scope to something actionable.  For example “Electricity” is very broad. “Electrical Contracting” is broad.  “Electrical Preconstruction” is narrower. “Electrical Conceptual Estimating for Medical Office Buildings” is ACTIONABLE! 
  • Take a detailed inventory of your Current Knowledge Level.  Involve others who are experts in the area because you probably can’t truly see what you don’t know.
  • Assess where your Target Knowledge Level really needs to be.  Will 80% of mastery level achieve the results you want or do you have to be the best in your market to achieve the results you want?  Learning takes time and resources so it is a waste to “Over Learn” unless it is just for your personal enjoyment.  

Now the Factors for Closing that Gap:

  • Learning Speed:  Know where yours is at.  Everyone’s is different in different areas.  Don’t worry about it. There are many other multipliers you have more control over.  Look at how you can improve your learning speed through sleep, exercise, nutrition and timing.  
  • Focused Study:  If you skip all over the place or look too broadly it will take longer.  Develop a plan and stick to it.  
  • Deliberate Practice:  Just like physical exercise the best way to learn is to do it over and over tightening up timing and form each cycle. 
  • Daily Time Invested:  Practicing for a specific period every day when your brain is fresh and practice until it “hurts” providing time to recover afterwards just like you would physically exercise.
  • Years:  If it is worth learning and worth mastering the time is probably measured in years or large fractions of a year if you have really tightened up your scope.  

Does this level of investment make sense?  If not then re-evaluate the knowledge gap you want to close.

Look back at your calendar for the last month - what does it tell you about your learning behaviors?

Will those behaviors get you where you want to be in the next year?  2 years? 10 years?




PICK SMART Improvements
Contractors will never have enough resources to solve all problems or take advantage of every opportunity they face. There are a couple tools that can be used to align the team around the best utilization of resources:
Lean Principle - Kaizen (Every Detail Matters)
As contractors build their businesses, it is important to look at every detail from the first meeting with a potential customer through winning and building the project. This same attention to detail also applies to supporting operations and talent.
Leading Change Quote - Arthur Schopenhauer
If you see something that no one else sees you are either genius or crazy of some combination of the two. If what you see is so big that you can’t ignore it be prepared for a long journey through the process of change.