INSIGHT
“The POWER of knowledge” By Davide Accetto I Byrnes Dental Laboratory
I
was 21 years old, working for a family run Dental Lab in Rome, where I have basically spent all of my youth since the age of 14, by casting plaster and processing jobs for the senior technicians in both departments of C&B and Prosthetics. God only knows how much I have loved that place but as the time was passing by, my frustration was escalating with my age - I wanted more, I wanted to learn more, I wanted to be able to finish the jobs, and not just be processing them and passing into someone else hands.
It becomes power only when, and if, it is organised into a definitive plan of action, and directed to a definitive end.
I was stuck, busy, too young maybe… but I was determined, and I will never forget that day of July. “Luigi?!” He was my manager. “When will you teach me how to finalise the work?”
“Before I will get retired” he said. “Why you said that?” “Because If I teach you everything you will leave me” He was wrong, I would never have left. However, from that moment I sadly understood that the only way to acquire more knowledge was to leave, but I couldn’t do it without a definite plan of action. It took me nearly 2 years to gain the experience and the courage to leave Luigi. Without his knowledge, every Saturday I was working for free for another Lab just to learn enough to feel confident in myself. I have met many “Luigi’s” in my career. All of them failed to build a successful team, by neglecting to foster knowledge to those who are eager to learn and enhance their skills. Maybe for fear of losing them once the “power” had been given to their hands, or maybe just to avoid an uncomfortable pay rise. In any case they lost many valid and talented people. The same goes for Team members that are not sharing their knowledge with other colleagues. It can be even worse for a team than a “Luigi", as it will create fractures between colleagues and a lack of trust which can passively destroy a team that is not well-bonded.
FOR THE TEAM
Invest in your knowledge: Your brain is the most profitable asset you will ever own and the one that will never stop paying you back. Read books, magazines and listen to podcasts: Nothing is better than starting to build your knowledge by studying books, reading magazines or listening to some podcast. It will help you to achieve your goals, improve your skills and develop your mindset.
16 MARCH 2022 V2.indd 16
www.dentaltechnician.org.uk 03/03/2022 18:51
