Why Wisdom is the new Knowledge

Knowledge was hard-earned, and passed down like a torch. Leaders were valued for their expertise, often seen as the ultimate source of answers within their organisations.
But the world has changed. Today, with Google, ChatGPT, and platforms like Coursera, knowledge is everywhere. What once required years of study or experience can now be accessed with a few clicks. The playing field for information is more level than ever, but that also means knowledge alone no longer carries the same weight.

As leaders, this evolution forces us to ask: if knowledge is no longer the greatest source of value we provide our organisations, what is?
The answer is wisdom.

Wisdom is what enables us to take knowledge and turn it into insight.
In this blog, I'll explore why wisdom is the new power currency for leaders and why practices that encourage deep thinking - like journaling - can help you cultivate it.

My favourite of these is journaling. It's simple, accessible, and profoundly effective.

Developing wisdom requires self-awareness and there is no better way to develop self awareness than to see your own thoughts reflected back at you from the page.

Just like you develop some of your best insights by talking through a problem with a friend, writing your thoughts out onto a page allows you to take a step outside of yourself and create some distance and objectivity between yourself and your own brain. Writing about your decisions, challenges, and experiences helps you uncover patterns and develop deeper personal insight into your thought processes.

The power of a good journaling session is in the space it provides you to pause, refect and gain clarity.

Early last year in the blog, I told the story of a journaling session I ran in the CFO Boardroom. That quarter, the room just felt heavy and I knew everyone in it needed 10 minutes to get out of their own heads and into the room.

I opened the session by asking participants to write, stream of consciousness style about what they were thinking. I told them to "feel free to start with something like 'Today I feel happy/tired. And I feel happy/tired because.....'".

I asked them to just let the words come out exactly in the way they come into their head. "Use full sentences. Resist the temptation to use bullet-points and synthesise or make sense of what you're writing. Feel free to 'verbal diarrhoea' on the page. These are your thoughts; you won't need to share your words with anyone."

Within 10 minutes the room felt lighter and we were ready to begin.

Imagine if we started every day without all the noise in our heads? That's the power of journaling.

There have been hundreds of studies conducted into the positive impacts of journaling.

A Harvard Business School study of over 50,000 workers titled "Learning by Thinking" revealed that maintaining a work journal significantly enhances job performance. The study found that those who regularly journaled about their work experiences showed a 22.8% improvement in measurable performance compared to their non-journaling colleagues.

Another study published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology found that participants who journaled demonstrated a 25% improvement in attention span during cognitive tasks after journaling.

Journaling can lead to;

● Improved Critical Thinking: Reflective writing enhances analytical and decision-making skills by forcing the writer to clarify their thoughts.
● Enhanced Emotional Intelligence: Journaling helps leaders process emotions, recognize patterns in their reactions, and improve their ability to empathise with others.
● Stress Reduction: Writing about challenges can lower cortisol levels.
● Increased Resilience: Reflective practices encourage problem-solving and the ability to bounce back from setbacks.

These benefits translate into sharper focus, better communication, and a steadier hand in times of uncertainty.

Try getting ChatGPT to do all that!

As leaders, our value lies in how we interpret, apply, and act on the knowledge at our disposal. Wisdom enables us to navigate complexity, develop greater empathy, and make better decisions.

Journaling, as simple as it seems, is a powerful tool for cultivating this wisdom.
So, grab a notebook, take a moment to reflect, and start building the clarity and confidence that will set you apart in 2025.

How often do you create space for reflection and strategic thinking in your daily routine?What could change for you if you journaled daily?

I'd love to hear your thoughts.

This is the trusted guide for CFOs to lead with IMPACT and create VALUE.

It's time for women in finance to find power in their purpose!