{"id":21890,"date":"2022-02-01T10:00:46","date_gmt":"2022-02-01T09:00:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hatrabbits.com\/?p=21890"},"modified":"2022-07-26T17:31:24","modified_gmt":"2022-07-26T15:31:24","slug":"dont-ask-experts-to-solve-your-problem","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hatrabbits.com\/en\/dont-ask-experts-to-solve-your-problem\/","title":{"rendered":"Don\u2019t ask experts to solve your problem"},"content":{"rendered":"
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1658849480364{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]If you\u2019re trying to understand, and ultimately solve, a complex problem, It\u2019s wise to consult one or more experts. However, it\u2019s a mistake to ask these experts how you should solve your problem.<\/p>\n

A while ago I read the book \u2018Stop Guessing<\/a>\u2019<\/u> by Nat Greene. Stop Guessing is a relatively thin book, but in it are some thought-provoking recommendations. One of the things Greene describes in the book is how<\/em> to involve experts in your problemsolving efforts.<\/p>\n

Greene\u2019s advice to never ask experts to solve your problem<\/em> resonated with me, as I often warn interns (and new employees) about underestimating the importance of interviewing experts RIGHT. Lesson one is pretty straightforward: don\u2019t take what an expert tells you at face value. Instead, keep asking follow-up questions<\/u><\/a> until you know exactly WHY he or she makes a particular claim. Lesson two is not as obvious: make sure you ask the right<\/em> questions.<\/p>\n

The curse of knowledge<\/strong><\/h3>\n

What makes someone an expert? Well, generally, experts have lots of experience and in-depth knowledge of how something works. Their extensive experience is what makes them knowledgeable, but it is also what makes them an unlikely source of creative solutions. Experts are burdened by \u2018the curse of knowledge; they know so much that it limits their imagination. It\u2019s incredibly hard for experts who know a lot about a topic to seriously consider possible alternatives that don\u2019t fit with what they expect. Because of this, it\u2019s easy for an expert to miss or ignore unusual data.<\/p>\n

What you shouldn\u2019t ask experts<\/strong><\/h3>\n

When interviewing experts, don\u2019t ask them: \u201cHow should I solve this?<\/em>\u201d or \u201cWhat\u2019s causing this?<\/em>\u201d If it were that easy, an expert would\u2019ve solved it by now. There is, however, a more important reason not to ask an expert to solve your problem; experts are likely to favour a \u2018just in case\u2019 approach. They won\u2019t want to risk their reputation with a solution that might not work, so they\u2019ll be tempted to advise you to get a new product or system entirely, instead of attempting to fix what\u2019s broken. After all, advising you to buy an expensive solution that’s guaranteed to work won\u2019t destroy their career. Attempting to fix the problem, on the other hand, might damage their reputation if it doesn’t work. Why risk it?<\/p>\n

What to ask instead<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Experts are risk-averse and eager to spend your<\/em> money. Don’t ask them how to solve your problem. Instead, use their expertise to help you understand what\u2019s going on. Ask them questions like \u201cPlease help me to understand how this system works<\/em>.\u201d This way, the expert can share his or her invaluable experience and knowledge, without being tempted to give you well-intended opinions and advice. Ask questions until you understand exactly<\/em> how the (part of the) system that\u2019s causing problems works.<\/p>\n

Once you fully understand how a system or process works, you are well equipped to generate solutions. Using a fresh perspective and creative thinking techniques<\/a>,<\/span> you are likely to find original solutions the experts in the field would never have considered.<\/p>\n

Would you like to know what else is essential in solving complex problems? Then consider contacting us for an in-company workshop on Creative Problemsolving<\/u><\/a> or for some innovation coaching<\/u><\/a>. We\u2019ll gladly teach your team to solve any problem creatively and are happy to guide you through the process of problemsolving yourself.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

If you\u2019re trying to tackle a complex problem, It\u2019s wise to consult experts. However, don’t ask these experts how to solve your problem.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":21897,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"mc4wp_mailchimp_campaign":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[315],"tags":[2212,95,2213,1266,211,253,2215,2214],"class_list":["post-21890","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-problem-solving","tag-expert","tag-experts","tag-interviewing-experts","tag-knowledge","tag-problem-solving","tag-questions","tag-understand-the-problem","tag-what-to-ask-experts"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nDon\u2019t ask experts to solve your problem - HatRabbits<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"If you\u2019re trying to tackle a complex problem, It\u2019s wise to consult experts. 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