Observation is the bridge between experience and wisdom. The more carefully you observe, the faster you learn and the better you lead
The Power of Observation: The Most Underrated Leadership Skill
Throughout my career, I have worked across different countries, cultures and fields—from health and education to media, music and film production, TV presenting, fashion design and operations management.
I have often been asked how I learned to navigate areas where I had no formal training in many of these fields .
My answer is simple:
I observe.
I strongly believe that success does not come from knowledge alone. It comes from our ability to observe, learn, adapt and apply lessons faster than others.
Observation teaches us to recognize patterns that others miss.
In leadership, it helps us understand what is happening beyond what is being said.
In relationships, it teaches us to judge people by patterns of behavior rather than words.
In innovation, it allows us to identify problems, trends and opportunities before they become obvious.
And in our personal health and wellbeing, observation helps us understand something equally important: our own bodies.
For me, observation is the bridge between experience and wisdom.
Experience alone does not necessarily make us wiser. We become wiser when we observe what happened, understand why it happened, learn from it and apply that lesson to what comes next.
The fastest learners are not always the smartest people in the room. They are often the most observant. Observation turns experience into wisdom.
But this has led me to another question that fascinates me:
Can our ability to observe, reflect and connect experiences help us prolong one of the most valuable forms of human intelligence—crystallized intelligence?
I believe it can.
And this becomes particularly interesting for leaders in their 50s, 60s, 70s—and potentially beyond. Yes even in their 80’s
I will explore this in my next article:
“The Observant Mind: How to Extend the Peak of Crystallized Intelligence and Turn Experience Into Wisdom.”
For now, I would love to ask you:
What has observation taught you that formal education never could?
Throughout my career, I have often been asked how I learned to navigate different countries, cultures, leadership environments, and industries such as ; health , education , media , music production, film making , TV production and presenting , fashion design and operation managment without formal training in many of those areas.
My answer is simple:
I observe. In my experience, observation is one of the most underrated skills in leadership and in life. Many people believe success comes from knowledge alone, and strongly believe this is not correct .
I believe success comes from the ability to observe, learn, adapt, and apply lessons faster than others.
Observation allows us to learn from our own experiences, from the experiences of others, and from the world around us without waiting for formal instruction.It is one of the fastest forms of learning available to us. It is the best method to extend the peak of your crystallized intelligence, which I am going to address in one of my next articles because it is really important for me and most of leaders in their 50’s , 60’s and 70’s and may be also in their 80’s .
Yes you still can be at your crystallized intelligence’s peak in your 80’s if you follow certain health and wellbeing tips shared by so me neuroscientists and health and wellbeing experts. Anyway , I will share all these tips in my next articles.
In general , when you learn to observe yourself, your health improves. When you learn to observe people, your relationships improve. When you learn to observe the world, your leadership improves.
Observation Creates Fast Learners
Some people repeat the same mistakes for years, Others learn quickly and move forward.
The difference is often not intelligence.
It is observation.
Observant people notice patterns. They notice causes and effects. They ask themselves simple but powerful questions:
- Why did this work?
- Why did that fail?
- What changed?
- What can I learn from this?
The answers often reveal insights that others completely miss.
Observation and Personal Health
One of the most important areas where observation has helped me is health and wellbeing.
Every person’s body is different.
What works for one person may not work for another.
Over the years, I learned to pay close attention to how my body responds to food, exercise, supplements, medication, sleep patterns, and stress.
Observation teaches us:
- Which foods increase our energy
- Which foods create discomfort
- Which exercises strengthen our bodies
- Which routines improve our wellbeing
- Which habits support long-term health
Many people follow trends. Observant people follow evidence from their own experiences instead of blindly accepting every new recommendation, they pay attention to the signals their body provides.
Their body becomes their teacher.
Observation and Leadership
Leadership is not only about speaking, It is also about observing
Some leaders enter every room focused on what they want to say while the most effective leaders enter every room focused on what they can learn.
Observation helps leaders understand:
- Team dynamics
- Unspoken concerns
- Emerging opportunities
- Hidden risks
- Sources of motivation
- Sources of conflict
Many leadership challenges become visible long before they become serious problems but only to those who are paying attention.
A leader who observes carefully , they are proactive , they often solves problems before others even recognize they exist.
Observation and Human Relationships
People reveal much more through actions than through words.
Observant individuals notice:
- Who keeps promises
- Who supports others
- Who creates problems
- Who brings solutions
- Who remains loyal during difficult times
- Who appears only when success arrives
Over time, these observations help us build stronger teams, healthier relationships, successful and more effective partnerships.
The best judges of character are often not the most educated people but the most observant people.
Observation Creates Innovation
Many of the world’s best ideas began with observation. Someone noticed a problem, identified an unmet need or recognized a pattern that others overlooked.
Innovation often begins with a simple question:
“Why is nobody doing this differently?” I often ask myself this important question.
The ability to observe carefully allows me to identify trends before they become obvious even in fashion .
It allows me to see opportunities before others see them. It allows me to create solutions before others realize solutions are needed.
Observation Is More Powerful Than Assumption
One of the biggest mistakes people make is assuming instead of observing.
Assumptions create bias, observation creates understanding.
Assumptions limit learning, observation expands learning.
The more we observe, the more accurate and creative our decisions and solutions become and the more successful we are likely to be.
As I have grown personally and professionally, I have become increasingly convinced that observation is one of life’s greatest teachers.
It requires no special degree.
No certification.
No expensive training program.
Only curiosity, attention, and discipline.
The people who grow fastest are often those who observe most carefully.
They learn from success and failure
They learn from people.
They learn from their environment.
And most importantly, they learn from themselves.
Observation turns everyday experiences into lessons and those lessons, accumulated over time, become wisdom.
In a world where everyone is rushing to speak, perhaps one of the greatest advantages we can develop is the ability to pause, watch, and learn.
“The fastest learners are not always the smartest people in the room. They are often the most observant. Observation turns experience into wisdom.” — Dr. Rasha Kelej
The question now is ; Can our ability to observe, reflect and connect experiences actually help us prolong one of the most valuable forms of human intelligence—crystallized intelligence?
Soon, I will share my next article “The Observant Mind: How to Extend the Peak of Crystallized Intelligence and Turn Experience Into Wisdom”
Senator Dr. Rasha Kelej
CEO of Merck Foundation