Judith Witte: The more I learn, the more I realise what I do not know

I actually wanted to write about the nitrogen crisis here. Because the reduction of nitrogen will seriously hamper or delay construction, especially in regions with high emissions. To make sense of a difficult subject, I always want to do some thorough reading. But it is too much. Too complex. Moreover, at the time this issue goes to press, the government is still discussing the nitrogen plans. Minister De Jonge does not want to make final agreements with the provinces on the division of building production until early October; apparently he does not know it all yet either. 

There's a lot I don't know, that's the fun part of my job. So I am constantly learning new things. Sometimes I dive into the world of microbiology and food safety, sometimes I explore the possibilities of new proteins. Last month, I found myself immersed in the ups and downs of the construction sector. And there is always something new to discover. Knowledge development never stops.

Last autumn, I decided to work on my personal development again, and become a running trainer. To achieve this, I went through a tough course at the Athletics Union to get my licence. What made it so tough was that I was confronted with my lack of knowledge. And I am not just talking about theoretical knowledge of a new field. The most confronting thing was the confrontation with myself. In this new position of trainer, quite a few new skills were required of me. I had to continuously reflect on my own role in the process. Time and again I was challenged to thoroughly evaluate my own goals and those of the athletes, to recognise my limits and to formulate learning goals in order to push those limits.  

In the theme story, one of the interviewees says that people are really listening to each other more and more on the construction site. There is also more cooperation early on in the process. And he noticed that people recognise each other's professional knowledge and expertise. "Daring to be vulnerable, daring to admit what you don't know; it saves you a lot of trouble in the long run," he said. Whenever I hear a statement like that during an interview, I realise that this is really something special. That much I know right away.

Judith Witte
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