|
When you face a problem that involves what you don't fully understand, it's useful to learn from an expert.
Managers at an automobile manufacturing plant tried to figure out why some of the windshields on one car model often leaked. Unable to solve the problem themselves, the managers hired consultants to help them. The consultants also couldn't figure out why the windshields leaked, but they did notice that the windshields installed during one of the shifts didn't leak. They watched the windshields installed during that shift and saw that the windshields were installed differently. When they asked the person in charge why the windshields weren't installed according to the instructions, he said "If we did it that way, they would leak."
Instead of choosing an expert primarily based on titles, salaries, attire, and diplomas, it's wise to judge expertise according to how clearly the person understands the situation you want to improve.
If you were looking for an expert in losing weight, who would you turn to? Someone who is thin, and has always been that way? Someone who has lots of experience with diets and exercise programs, but is still overweight? Or someone who has successfully lost weight? This example emphasizes that an expert should have experience in making the transition you want to make. It's not enough that the person has faced the same problem you face.
When you go to an expert, it's best not to depend on the expert for advice because that puts you in the role of explaining the details of your situation, leaving little time for learning what the expert can teach you. Instead, it's better to spend your time seeking a clearer understanding of what you don't yet clearly understand. The better you understand your situation, the better able you will be to solve the problem you face.
When seeking an expert to learn from, keep in mind that going to an expert to learn includes going to a library or bookstore to read what an expert has written.
Suppose public education were to be improved by attracting to the teaching profession college students who would normally choose to pursue high-paying jobs in law, medicine, and business management. Part of such a solution would require paying excellent teachers more than average teachers, and paying average teachers more than mediocre teachers. What experts would you turn to in order to determine the level of excellence of each teacher in a school? An easily overlooked group of experts are the teachers themselves. Nearly any teacher in a school knows which other teachers in the school are excellent and which ones are mediocre. (Of course creating a way to financially reward honesty and cooperation and discourage cliquishness would be an additional component of improving public education through this approach.)
When trying to create a solution to a problem you face, seek out a true expert who, through spoken words or written material, can lead you to a clearer understanding of what you don't yet clearly understand.
 List of
tips |
Top
of Page |
Next tip |
© Copyright 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, and 2003 Solutions Through Innovation www.SolutionsCreative.com All rights reserved.