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Not Knowing: The Art of Turning Uncertainty into Opportunity
In order to thrive in uncertain times, this fascinating book proposes we head, uncomfortably, towards the unknown, rather than away from it. By developing a unique relationship with Not Knowing we discover a new way of living, working and succeeding in our modern world.
This book re-frames the concept of Not Knowing, from being in a fearful place of weakness and ignorance, moving to something we must engage with personally. It introduces us to a new paradigm, where Not Knowing becomes an exciting opportunity, where we are no longer limited by what we already know and our habitual reactions to things that life throws at us, so that deeper knowing can emerge, full of rich possibilities and wisdom.
You will be led on an inspiring journey into Not Knowing, encouraging you to develop an exploratory mindset, so that you may face the unknown and thrive, rather than merely survive. With a diverse range of inspirational stories from people in all walks of life, you will learn the mindset and skills of those who not only tolerate the unknown but use it to their advantage – to experience joy, creativity, excitement and possibility for their whole lives.
In this book you will learn how Not Knowing enabled:
A veteran and CEO of an architecture firm to rescue his company from bankruptcy to become one of the fastest growing outfits in the US
A small engineering company in Colombia to increase annual sales from $4 million to $56 million by throwing out the rule book and moving from a place of control to a place of trust
An engineer and chef to discover a ‘secret sauce’ by making a mistake which took three years to replicate
A Deputy CEO of a media company to manage a significant transition in the industry by leading his team into the unknown.
This book re-frames the concept of Not Knowing, from being in a fearful place of weakness and ignorance, moving to something we must engage with personally. It introduces us to a new paradigm, where Not Knowing becomes an exciting opportunity, where we are no longer limited by what we already know and our habitual reactions to things that life throws at us, so that deeper knowing can emerge, full of rich possibilities and wisdom.
You will be led on an inspiring journey into Not Knowing, encouraging you to develop an exploratory mindset, so that you may face the unknown and thrive, rather than merely survive. With a diverse range of inspirational stories from people in all walks of life, you will learn the mindset and skills of those who not only tolerate the unknown but use it to their advantage – to experience joy, creativity, excitement and possibility for their whole lives.
In this book you will learn how Not Knowing enabled:
A veteran and CEO of an architecture firm to rescue his company from bankruptcy to become one of the fastest growing outfits in the US
A small engineering company in Colombia to increase annual sales from $4 million to $56 million by throwing out the rule book and moving from a place of control to a place of trust
An engineer and chef to discover a ‘secret sauce’ by making a mistake which took three years to replicate
A Deputy CEO of a media company to manage a significant transition in the industry by leading his team into the unknown.
352 pages, Paperback
First published June 9, 2014
24 people are currently reading
235 people want to read
About the author
Diana Renner
1 book4 followersDiana is Director of Not Knowing Lab, an international consulting practice focused on building the capability of organizations and individuals to successfully navigate uncertainty and complexity. She consults to senior executives in a range of commercial, government and community organizations around the world.
She is co-author of ‘Not Knowing: the art of turning uncertainty into opportunity’, with Steven D’Souza, published by LID Publishing, London in May 2014.
Diana has spent most of her life moving from one state of Not Knowing to another. From fleeing her country of birth, Romania, to an unknown future in a new country; to a continuous process of professional reinvention covering the fields of law, strategy, communications, refugee advocacy and leadership development.
Diana weaves together a range of disciplines including Adaptive Leadership, Complexity Theory, Adult Development and Process Oriented Psychology to help people become better leaders and make a positive impact in the world around them. She is particularly interested in ‘sand box leadership’ – creating experiential learning opportunities where people can play, experiment and reflect, and develop self-awareness, adaptability, and more comfort with ambiguity and uncertainty.
Diana has taught on a variety of leadership programs, including as a Faculty member with Harvard University JF Kennedy School of Government for ‘The Art & Practice of Leadership Development’; Social Leadership Australia’s adaptive leadership programs, including ‘Sydney Leadership’; The University of Adelaide and The University of Texas LBJ School of Government’s ‘Transformative Leadership’; and Leadership Victoria’s ‘Adaptive Leadership Masterclasses with Marty Linsky’.
Diana’s passion for people, learning and creativity give her work meaning. She lives with her husband and two children in Melbourne, Australia.
She is co-author of ‘Not Knowing: the art of turning uncertainty into opportunity’, with Steven D’Souza, published by LID Publishing, London in May 2014.
Diana has spent most of her life moving from one state of Not Knowing to another. From fleeing her country of birth, Romania, to an unknown future in a new country; to a continuous process of professional reinvention covering the fields of law, strategy, communications, refugee advocacy and leadership development.
Diana weaves together a range of disciplines including Adaptive Leadership, Complexity Theory, Adult Development and Process Oriented Psychology to help people become better leaders and make a positive impact in the world around them. She is particularly interested in ‘sand box leadership’ – creating experiential learning opportunities where people can play, experiment and reflect, and develop self-awareness, adaptability, and more comfort with ambiguity and uncertainty.
Diana has taught on a variety of leadership programs, including as a Faculty member with Harvard University JF Kennedy School of Government for ‘The Art & Practice of Leadership Development’; Social Leadership Australia’s adaptive leadership programs, including ‘Sydney Leadership’; The University of Adelaide and The University of Texas LBJ School of Government’s ‘Transformative Leadership’; and Leadership Victoria’s ‘Adaptive Leadership Masterclasses with Marty Linsky’.
Diana’s passion for people, learning and creativity give her work meaning. She lives with her husband and two children in Melbourne, Australia.
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March 15, 2021
لعنة المعرفة
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التخصص له فوائد ، ولكنه يأتي أيضًا مصحوبًا بالمخاطرة: فكلما كنا أكثر كفاءة ، أصبحنا أكثر عرضة للوقوع فريسة لـ "لعنة المعرفة". تعني لعنة المعرفة أنه كلما عرفت أكثر ، كلما كان من الصعب التفكير والتحدث عن مجال خبرتك بطريقة بسيطة .
حيث نميل إلى التواصل من مستوى عالٍ للغاية ، وإساءة تقدير قدرة الآخرين على فهمنا ، مما يسبب الارتباك. وإعاقة تعلم الآخرين. عندما تكون المهمة هي توصيل المعرفة ، يمكن لهذه اللعنة أن تقلل فوائد المعرفة لأنه لا يتلقاها الجمهور المقصود.
يمكن أيضًا للغة المعقدة أو المصطفاة أن تخفي المعرفة الحقيقية - حيث يتعلم أحد الهواة بعض الكلمات الطنانة أو المصطلحات ذات الصلة ويستخدمها لخلق انطباع بالمعرفة. يُترك الجمهور في وضع أسوأ ، سواء تم الخلط بينه وبين متخصص حقيقي أو تضليل الجمهور من قبل شخص لا يمتلك الخبرة ولكنه يستخدم المصطلحات ببراعة كغطاء لجهله.
يمكن أن تضعف المعرفة المتخصصة أيضًا التفكير حول المشكلات المعقدة. كما لاحظ مؤلفو The Curse of Knowledge ، تشيب ودان هيث: "عندما نحصل على المعرفة ، من المستحيل أن نتخيل كيف يكون الحال بدون تلك المعرفة".
كلما زادت خبرتنا في موضوع معين ، كان من الصعب علينا تأطير المشكلة بطريقة محايدة يفهمها الجميع. تحد معرفتنا وخبرتنا من منظورنا وقدرتنا على استكشاف الحلول الممكنة ، وتجعل من الصعب علينا التفكير بشكل جانبي أو "خارج الصندوق". يسمي الاقتصاديون السلوكيون هذا "التحيز الراسخ" - حيث تكون طبيعة المشكلة راسخة بالفعل ، أو "ترتكز" على المعرفة الموجودة.
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Steven D'Souza
Not Knowing
Translated By #Maher_Razouk
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التخصص له فوائد ، ولكنه يأتي أيضًا مصحوبًا بالمخاطرة: فكلما كنا أكثر كفاءة ، أصبحنا أكثر عرضة للوقوع فريسة لـ "لعنة المعرفة". تعني لعنة المعرفة أنه كلما عرفت أكثر ، كلما كان من الصعب التفكير والتحدث عن مجال خبرتك بطريقة بسيطة .
حيث نميل إلى التواصل من مستوى عالٍ للغاية ، وإساءة تقدير قدرة الآخرين على فهمنا ، مما يسبب الارتباك. وإعاقة تعلم الآخرين. عندما تكون المهمة هي توصيل المعرفة ، يمكن لهذه اللعنة أن تقلل فوائد المعرفة لأنه لا يتلقاها الجمهور المقصود.
يمكن أيضًا للغة المعقدة أو المصطفاة أن تخفي المعرفة الحقيقية - حيث يتعلم أحد الهواة بعض الكلمات الطنانة أو المصطلحات ذات الصلة ويستخدمها لخلق انطباع بالمعرفة. يُترك الجمهور في وضع أسوأ ، سواء تم الخلط بينه وبين متخصص حقيقي أو تضليل الجمهور من قبل شخص لا يمتلك الخبرة ولكنه يستخدم المصطلحات ببراعة كغطاء لجهله.
يمكن أن تضعف المعرفة المتخصصة أيضًا التفكير حول المشكلات المعقدة. كما لاحظ مؤلفو The Curse of Knowledge ، تشيب ودان هيث: "عندما نحصل على المعرفة ، من المستحيل أن نتخيل كيف يكون الحال بدون تلك المعرفة".
كلما زادت خبرتنا في موضوع معين ، كان من الصعب علينا تأطير المشكلة بطريقة محايدة يفهمها الجميع. تحد معرفتنا وخبرتنا من منظورنا وقدرتنا على استكشاف الحلول الممكنة ، وتجعل من الصعب علينا التفكير بشكل جانبي أو "خارج الصندوق". يسمي الاقتصاديون السلوكيون هذا "التحيز الراسخ" - حيث تكون طبيعة المشكلة راسخة بالفعل ، أو "ترتكز" على المعرفة الموجودة.
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Steven D'Souza
Not Knowing
Translated By #Maher_Razouk
April 13, 2021
The topic is interesting, but somehow the whole story doesn't come together. There are a lof ot unnecessary stuff in this book where the real meaning lost. Separate stories are not closely related so they do not form a whole. However, there are a few questions at the end of the book that are very helpful.
Read
July 3, 2017I have written a blog post on this book. The link to the post is as below. Please pardon my grammar and English in my writing; I am learning to write.
http://phtan.github.io/blog/post/2016...
I borrowed this book from a library in Singapore.
http://phtan.github.io/blog/post/2016...
I borrowed this book from a library in Singapore.
May 18, 2021
I legit finished reading this book, feeling unsure and not knowing how to deal with the idea of not knowing. And I'm content with that.
I like how this book explores the stigmatisation of 'not knowing' through various anecdotes and historical events. But, in all honesty, I did get tired from the "I feel lost and so I pack a few things and aboard onto an aimless journey" stories after a few of them. Nevertheless, they are still intriguing to read and they do highlight this often unspoken fear of being found incompetent for not knowing things.
In the later chapters, there are more call-to-actions but I think the authors do emphasise that it's not an absolute prescription which I find to be in the spirit of the whole concept and I whole-heartedly agree with it. Yet, at the same time, acknowledging that makes me find them redundant too.
However, I still enjoy the way the authors break down everything. My favourite chapter is the last one (especially the one on compassion). And I'm glad that coming out of this, I do feel lighter and find myself having more appreciation towards what life is currently throwing at me and has to offer in the future.
I like how this book explores the stigmatisation of 'not knowing' through various anecdotes and historical events. But, in all honesty, I did get tired from the "I feel lost and so I pack a few things and aboard onto an aimless journey" stories after a few of them. Nevertheless, they are still intriguing to read and they do highlight this often unspoken fear of being found incompetent for not knowing things.
In the later chapters, there are more call-to-actions but I think the authors do emphasise that it's not an absolute prescription which I find to be in the spirit of the whole concept and I whole-heartedly agree with it. Yet, at the same time, acknowledging that makes me find them redundant too.
However, I still enjoy the way the authors break down everything. My favourite chapter is the last one (especially the one on compassion). And I'm glad that coming out of this, I do feel lighter and find myself having more appreciation towards what life is currently throwing at me and has to offer in the future.
June 13, 2017
Very good book with professional examples about how to deal with the unknown, also valid for the day by day. I missed a bit more of conections beetween stories, that´s the reason why under my 4 star.
Excelent book
Excelent book
August 25, 2017
Genial, atrevido e iluminante
October 31, 2019
I loved this book. The next one by the authors - NOT DOING - is great too.
April 20, 2020
Excelente libro aprendí mucho
November 19, 2021
Like a Texas longhorn, rambling on and on about nothing...
January 11, 2022
The first two parts were Illuminating.
March 16, 2017
Good "table book", not very well structured and i can't shake the feeling that it could've been a long and well written magazine article. Some examples are good, but most "life stories" are too cliché and repetitive in the end.
August 30, 2021
Its interesting book. It is about what, why and how to put ourselves into the uncertainty and unknown. I hardly finish this book even though the way the writers explain things is easy to be understand so certainly need to revisit this book if i felt overwhelmed with the unknown.
August 28, 2017
A nice book to know how to face the uncertain and difficult problem we might (surely) have in daily life, work, relationship, and anything. I can understand the idea that we tend to rely too much on our knowledge and not having much effort to see the real situation.
What I liked most about this book is about a half of this book is made from interesting examples. So many real stories and examples of people who got through the difficult situations without relying on their knowledge was such a good study for me. Those examples contain varieties of people, like from Vesalius in old time to some ordinary business persons.
What I liked most about this book is about a half of this book is made from interesting examples. So many real stories and examples of people who got through the difficult situations without relying on their knowledge was such a good study for me. Those examples contain varieties of people, like from Vesalius in old time to some ordinary business persons.
October 18, 2014
A fascinating book. Common wisdom states that knowledge is king but perhaps there are times when knowledge hampers us. It leads us to think we know the right approaches, spurn creativity and fail to respond in the most effective way to the challenges in our path.
De Souza and Renner explore the benefits of not knowing comprehensively, using a range of case studies from across the world and by people from different backgrounds to make their case.
De Souza and Renner explore the benefits of not knowing comprehensively, using a range of case studies from across the world and by people from different backgrounds to make their case.
August 30, 2016
It is simply the best book I have ever read. A fool thinks he is wise but a wise person thinks he is a fool. This book will help you embrace uncertainty into biggest opportunities, breaking boundaries to achieving the impossible. This books helps build wisdom and yet retain exploratory mindset.
Want to read
July 30, 2013To be published 2014
May 19, 2015
Very interesting topic but the structure was all over the place.
August 21, 2015
structure of this book is non existing, they collected (not even linked) examples of fearless thinking out of box, may be used as a good table book.
August 15, 2016
Muchas anecdotas donde el desconocimiento es mejor que saberlo todo
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews