I recently sent through a
strategy document that focused on social development and received a very
polite, ‘thank you very much but we don’t
think you are qualified to advise’.
That’s the politically correct version, of “Listen Dumbo, get out of my face”. The funny thing about strategy is that it
needs to address the question at hand and I think the biggest and most common mistake
that we make is asking the wrong questions and as a result; we define
the issue incorrectly.
It would appear that I continue
to have some of my least intelligent conversations with experts.
I dread a conversation with ‘experts’.
I swear that something must happen after someone is handed their PhD papers. The brain goes on leave or something. They are the quickest to power play and seldom answer my questions (my assumption is that their expertise has run out – their assumption is that I am simply so not on their level). Whatever the cause, it seems almost impossible to teach an ‘expert’ anything or get a straight answer.
I dread a conversation with ‘experts’.
I swear that something must happen after someone is handed their PhD papers. The brain goes on leave or something. They are the quickest to power play and seldom answer my questions (my assumption is that their expertise has run out – their assumption is that I am simply so not on their level). Whatever the cause, it seems almost impossible to teach an ‘expert’ anything or get a straight answer.
My latest conversation with a so
called ‘expert’ went something like this;
“So let me understand this, you want to increase the regulation and
policy on a trade that is already illegal”...
“Yes. In order to better manage
the current situation we need to focus on the policy, legal and judiciary
aspects of the trade.”
“Okay, but the trade is already illegal and statistics indicate that
this intervention strategy has had little to no effect to date. So the fact that the trade continues means
that the people who are engaged in trading have little to no regard for the law,
which would suggest that making more laws will have little to no impact... Thus the definition of ‘illegal’...”
The dialogue degenerated rapidly from there. Am I the only one who thinks that making more
laws to manage people who simply disregard law as a waste of time, money and effort? Why is it that when ‘an expert’ is not able to answer your questions your qualifications and title becomes automatically
relevant.
One of the biggest questions that
is seldom asked is: Is it working? Are we getting the results that we are
looking for? What is the bottom line or
cause (politically correct for
‘why’?)?
And so having this experience
regularly has highlighted another question; what makes somebody qualified? Somebody
with experience... Somebody with
knowledge... Somebody with an education
in the field...?
These so called ‘experts’ that we
hold in high esteem are often well equipped with knowledge. They hold a piece of paper which they earned
by researching a subject that is narrow in focus and makes them a specialist in
a very specific field; a ‘paper’ which somehow in today’s society places them
as an ‘expert’ in some field. But somehow, possessing knowledge and the
application of knowledge seem to be different activities all together.
There are a few more things I
think should be asked of someone when holding ‘experts’ in high esteem and
those are: What is their track
record? Do they hold a stake in the
outcomes that are being sought? How do
they weigh the significance of result and process? (Working
hard and producing nothing, nor should getting the results at all costs be held
in high esteem) What are their
intentions insofar as contributing to the matter at hand? Do they actually care to use their expertise in a
way that contributes positively to society and achieve the results that
have been prioritised?
When a position held or expertise
sought is to attain money and power... whatever the decisions, the outcomes
will generally not be ones that will benefit the majority.
This way of thinking is not new
and is bound to reoccur in a society that holds in high esteem; money, position and power.
Another conversation of note with
an ‘expert’ concluded something like this...
“Please excuse my wife as she is
just not that educated you see.” A
statement followed by a condescending little pat on her arm and a flicker of
hurt on her face.
A statement said to the same wife
who raised his children while he
pursued his PhD. A statement to the same
women who got pregnant in high school with the same man and who paid her in dues in lost opportunity and
a life time spent with a man who now looks down at her. A woman who, even though he is the reason why
she never had the opportunity to pursue her own dreams, is the reason he has a PhD today.
“Yes, there we
agree. There is a fool in the room. But it’s just not your wife” I think to
myself.
Thus, my conclusion on the matter
is quite simple. There is a big
difference between knowledge and wisdom and an educated fool is simply that: a
fool with a bunch of papers.
That being said, isn’t it time we
start addressing the issues and the outcomes?
Please!?!
...
- END -
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