Our conceptual grasp of something, our understanding of something, our epistemological knowledge, our theory is not sufficient to give us the kind of access required to make something part of our natural self-expression.
A powerful conceptual grasp of a subject does not give us access to the being and performing as one who lives in and is part of the subject. One can have a complete understanding (theory) of balancing on a bicycle and yet still not be able to ride it.
One can obtain a conceptual grasp and theoretical understanding of what it is to be a leader and exercise leadership effectively from simply reading the course material or one can master the being of a leader and effective exercise of leadership as-lived, as-experienced, in real-time.
Another example: I have a map of the city of Kiev, Ukraine. A representation (conceptualization), as any map is, of the exact locations of the streets, Metro stations, trolly bus terminals, restaurants, coffee houses, monuments, etc. But to relate to the concept as though it is the city itself would not be the same as standing in the coffee house with my favorite brew looking over the Independence Square.
Yet another: The menu or recipe represents the food and drink. Yet some of us consume the menu and recipes as though they are the food itself. In the restaurant we order the representation (conceptual description) of the thing with the expectation that the food will be similar to the previous food like the description the last time we went out to eat. And we don’t notice that it is frequently very different. We eat the concept, not the food we ordered. Which explains the upset when it is too far apart from our conceptual representation of the dish. We are ordering the concept of the last time that dish tasted great. We aren’t ordering this chef’s interpretation of that dish. And we are from time to time left disappointed.
This is the nature of human beings we collapse the story / explanation / theory / understanding / concept with as-lived, real-time life experience. And yet we have great difficulty seeing that we do this. It is hidden from out view so to speak. Once discovered we are provided with a great deal more freedom. We are not eating all the similar last-time-we-ordered meals and by-now routine restaurant trips. We are not eating the menu-concept.
We even describe people as: “..well you know how they are” as if they have some fixed property that makes them that-way. The become someone who is predictable. There is less risk and it takes less brain function. We don’t go home to discover who the people are there. They are an extension of what we know and what we figured out about them and now we have a conceptual understanding through which we relate to them. Discovery is no longer possible. Wonder is gone. Replaced by predictability and soon boredom. This is how the brain works, it is not interested in risks. It wants comfort and unpredictable people are threatening to it’s prediction schemes. Our brains are not designed for seeking a thrill-a-minute reality and deep profound intimacy. It is the design of the brain to enable us to survive. Unfortunately it also deadens us to live in a conceptual-based reality.
Erhard, Werner and Jensen, Michael C. and Zaffron, Steve and Echeverria, Jeronima, Course Materials for: ‘Being a Leader and the Effective Exercise of Leadership: An Ontological/Phenomenological Model’ (October 4, 2022). Harvard Business School NOM Working Paper No. 09-038, Simon School Working Paper No. 08-03, Barbados Group Working Paper No. 08-02, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1263835 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1263835