On expertise

A while ago, I decided to try writing short notes, aphorisms, poems, and song lyrics without compromising their instructional value. I wanted to experiment with writing different things to improve my writing skills and take out any academic lingo that might sneak into my writing without my notice. Trying something new is almost always a good way to learn, but whether I succeeded in improving my writing skills is not for me to say. Nonetheless, I learned a few things, and it was quite fun.

This short note was inspired by a disillusioned customer who discovered that their company's management team had spent approximately € 2000 on a two-hour keynote by a well-known "engaging speaker" to motivate employees during tough times. Unfortunately, the speaker did nothing more than spout clichés that anyone could have uttered, which were neither based in science nor proven experience. The results were not what the management team had hoped for. So, I thought about expertise, value for money and wrote a few lines. Here they are:

On expertise: Raindance is not meteorology. Knowing how a knight moves across a chessboard does not help you in real-life jousting. Knowing how to use Office 365 and Zoom skillfully in your everyday job does not make you a computer scientist. Deep knowledge in an area matters, as does the application of such knowledge. A genuine expert in a field understands the science behind it and how that understanding can be used in real-life situations. However, knowing something and being able to convey that knowledge are two different things. Knowing without being able to convey it is often nothing more than theoretical navel-gazing. Portraying the ability to convey something without backing it with knowledge is nothing less than deception. Neither scenario is desirable.

So, in terms of moral sensibilities: Aesop’s fables had them (not A$AP) so why shouldn't I have one: If you want value for your money, find someone with deep knowledge in the area you are seeking expertise who can convey and help you apply it in your setting.