Companies want employees to share what they know. After all, research has found that this leads to greater creativity, more innovation, and better performance, for individuals, teams, and organizations. Yet despite companies’ attempts to encourage knowledge-sharing, many employees withhold what they know — a phenomenon known as knowledge hoarding or knowledge hiding. — Harvard Business Review
A team of researchers have been exploring the dynamics behind knowledge sharing in work environments. While this is something many leaders encourage, their study has found that sometimes individuals within a team have certain reasons for hiding knowledge that might be able to help the rest of the group, namely, the fear of criticism. When the work environment is one where team members clearly understand the value behind sharing their knowledge, they are more likely to do so. This has been found to be a more affected approach compared to pressuring a team to collaborate. When we see the meaning behind something we desire to capitalize on it.
There are many more reasons for NOT sharing knowledge:
Political: Creating a disadvantage for others by deliberately holding back vital information.
Trust-related: Withholding information from people who have abused this information in the past, for example for personal gain.
Anxiety: Fear of being ridiculed for one's view.
Explore the history of the workplace culture and the relationships and you will find deeper reasons that motivate people to stay or become silent. Unfortunately.
That being said, a positive, nurturing, encouraging and trusting environment will always motivate people top share their views.
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In every office I worked in, everyone, we all shared information - except at one particular big office, a lot of people wouldn't share information, and I was told to "tell them to google it, or look it up on their own"
There are many more reasons for NOT sharing knowledge:
Political: Creating a disadvantage for others by deliberately holding back vital information.
Trust-related: Withholding information from people who have abused this information in the past, for example for personal gain.
Anxiety: Fear of being ridiculed for one's view.
Explore the history of the workplace culture and the relationships and you will find deeper reasons that motivate people to stay or become silent. Unfortunately.
That being said, a positive, nurturing, encouraging and trusting environment will always motivate people top share their views.
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