Knowledge Vs. Skill

Knowledge is the condition of being  aware of something.  It encompasses the cognitive  or mental abilities to retain or process information. 

Attitude  is a way of thinking  or feeling  about someone or something.  It includes the manner in which a person may deal with things emotionally.  It is often  reflected in a person's  behavior. 

Skills are a person's ability to perform  an activity or task. It includes  physical movements, coordination,  dexterity and the application of knowledge.  Skills are measured in terms  of speed, precision,  proficiency  and/or technique.

'Skill to do comes of doing'. - Ralph Waldo Emerson 

Habits are those aspects of a person's behavior that are repeatedly and consistently done without effort or conscious thought. Done often, it becomes a dominant disposition or tendency.  It is created, by repeating a learned action. 

Good habits include effective organizational skills such as making  checklist, checking email regularly,  or using a calendar. 

There is a fundamental difference between knowledge and skills. Knowledge can be transferred from one person to another. It can also be acquired through observation and study. Skill is the ability to apply this knowledge to specific situations. It is a more hands-on activity, and you become better through experience and constant practice.

Knowledge knows what to say. Wisdom knows when to say it. One can equate wisdom to skills here. Skills refer to the application of knowledge at the appropriate time and manner. While both knowledge and skills are important, the former is of no use without the latter.

Knowledge is the theoretical understanding of a subject. It is acquired through learning. Skills are the proficiencies you develop through training or experience. It is acquired through practice

Ex. Knowing how to bake a cake ( theory). Aware of the steps involved in changing a car tyre  Ex. For Skills: Having baking or cooking skills or practice in baking. Being able to change the car tyre

Knowledge increases with experience. Skills can be developed with practice.

Knowledge is essential, but it is skills that help you leave a lasting impression. I may know how to fix a flat tire, but can I actually do it, or do I need a mechanic? For that job, the mechanic gets paid more. Being nice to a patient is part of a doctors' duty, but it cannot be taught. You have to learn by watching and experimentation. 

Life skills are a must to go ahead in life.

Knowledge is power: You will have to be thorough in your area of expertise. If you majored in marketing, you must know marketing inside out to one day become the head of marketing. But if you want to run a company, you will have to understand manufacturing, finance, HR, and technology. Yes, to score high in your career, you must have multi-functional appreciation. 

Beyond Knowledge: Earlier, to win in the workplace, IQ (aka knowledge) was necessary. These days, you must also have the skills the job calls for. Everything is not taught in colleges and many are learned at the workplace. You should have both emotional and social skills. Your ability to communicate, be a team player, lead small groups, generate and take through ideas, and motivate others are crucial. These are the emotional (EQ) and social quotients (SQ). 

Keep Running: Earlier, the availability of knowledge in the world doubled every 50 years. Later, it started doubling every 15 years, and then every 3 years. This means that if you don't update for three years on the trot, you will become a museum piece. Learning is now lifelong and continuous. The moment you stop learning, your career is over.

Robot As Coworker : Newer technologies are disrupting organizations. The constant question is how much can be automated and be replaced with AI. No, the role of people has not been abated; it has only been transformed. You will spend more time working alongside key internal stakeholders, modeling and predicting different scenarios.

Have an an array of skills. In his timeless article, Skills of an Effective Administrator, Robert L Katz wrote, "A skill implies an ability which can be developed, not necessarily inborn, and which is manifested in performance, not merely in potential." Two things follow from this. One; skill is not what you are capable of doing; skill is what you actually do. Two, skills can be developed. 

Skills are like a moving target. What is skill today could be passe tomorrow. There would therefore be a need to learn, unlearn and relearn. Past skills are not an indicator of future abilities. So you must continually reinvent. 

There are 'hard skills' and 'soft-skills.' Teachers teach hard skills. You watch and imbibe soft skills. "Hard skills can be measured, such as typing, writing, math, and reading." By contrast, soft skills are harder to quantify and is an umbrella term for people skills, social skills, and personal attributes.