Embodying Tacit Knowledge

Knowledge or abilities that are "somehow" there are called "tacit knowledge."

I feel that this output in my "Every Morning Note" is yielding great results in embodying tacit knowledge.

Facilitation, consensus building, and also what is necessary to acquire knowledge and skills, I would like to think about "embodying tacit knowledge."

The lovely illustration at the beginning is one drawn by Fu-chan, which I have been allowed to use. Thank you.
Like this illustration, when you try to put into words what you are holding in your head, the result is what we call embodying tacit knowledge.

1. What is tacit knowledge?

Regarding "embodying tacit knowledge," I have a great mentor, and several years ago, I met that person and learned about embodying tacit knowledge for the first time.

I think an easy-to-understand example at that time was something like this.

Suppose there is a master carpenter with great skill.
He cannot teach that skill to his apprentices.
"It's a feeling," "I learned it with my arms," "It's intuition from many years of experience."
He might say things like that.

So, by asking various questions or
changing the perspective or angle,
the knowledge and skills gradually become concrete.

Even if the master himself cannot create a manual,
from a third-party perspective, one can help embody the master's tacit knowledge. That was what he said.

It is a skill achieved through active listening, questioning, insight, and observation.

When I saw an article by a certain highly skilled designer, they were saying something similar.

When creating a logo for a company,
the designer does not create from scratch, but
they keep asking questions about the company's concepts, commitments, and goals.
While asking,
the concepts they had put forward might actually have become hollow, or
in the deep layers, tacit knowledge that they valued very, very much can be found.

They wrote that they pull that out and create a simple-is-best logo. Amazing!

I think everyone has this kind of tacit knowledge that even they themselves are not aware of.

I think the people around us also have tacit knowledge in the same way.

(2) Embodiment through output

Actually, this article is the commemorative 100th post of my every-morning note!! Yay!
(That is why I chose this theme)

My every-morning output is not something I create, invent, or write from scratch.

I am outputting things that are in the corner of my mind, or things that are vaguely present through my past experiences and sensations, as if I am carving them out.

In other words, I am embodying the tacit knowledge that was sleeping within me in a vague state by outputting it into the form of an article.

When you try to convey or explain something to someone,
you have to write it so that it is understandable,
so you have to think about your word choices and include examples when you output it.

This, this is something that makes me very, very happy.
Every morning, I carve out tacit knowledge and feel refreshed, and I am very happy to encounter the form of the tacit knowledge that was sleeping until now, born as concrete text.

(3) Drawing out tacit knowledge

As mentioned at the beginning,
to draw out tacit knowledge,
you must have it outputted.
(Eccentrics like me? I output it on my own (lol))

Basically, I think it is something drawn out through questioning and active listening.

"Why?"
"How come?"
"Why do you feel that way?"
"Why do you think that way?"

I think it is something created by layering these Whys.

I think this process is useful when learning knowledge and skills, of course, but
it is very useful for reaching consensus in discussions and the like.

Haven't you all experienced this?
When you were thinking alone, there was no progress at all, but
when you talked with everyone, things moved forward all at once, or lots of ideas came out.

It means that as each person talks about sensations and vague thoughts that haven't even taken shape in their minds, they 'become embodied.'

To do that, it is important to respect each other's opinions and listen actively.
Never, ever just lecture them, or nothing will be born! (lol)

(4) Putting tacit knowledge into words and diagrams

Regarding taking embodiment a step further.

Let's try to "put into words" the tacit knowledge that has emerged.
It is even better if you try drawing diagrams or pictures.

When doing this by yourself,just try writing it down.
It is as if,your hands teach yourather than your head.

When discussing, let's try writing on the board as much as possible!
The "keywords" of the written text will become clearer.

Sometimes when you write it down, you might feel, "Something is a bit off."
As you make additions and corrections regarding how it is different,something that fits perfectly and feels right will emerge.

Trying to draw diagrams or pictures is even more effective.
This is because you can better expressthings that are "sensory"and cannot be put into words or text.

Regarding positional relationships or the size of things,there are many things that are obvious when seen as a picture.

If you are in the position of a facilitator or someone writing on the board,
I think this is a technique that you can continue to hone by being conscious of these tasks on a daily basis.

I have written outthe embodiment of tacit knowledge that I myself have valued very much.

This is exactly the work of embodiment!When I write it down, there are many abstract things, and I don't think I have been able to fully embody this theme (bitter laugh).

Well, as a basic first step, I think I was able to express it.
I would like to learn from my teacher once again.
I want to study more and more.

I will post related articles from the past here.
Thank you for watching again today.