It seems like forever that psychologists and business school types have been trying to find out what it is that separates experts from novices when it comes to making decisions.
Gary Klein's superb book, Sources of Power, examines this important area of our everyday lives from a fresh perspective.
Some lessons do appear to be constant, crossing the boundaries of profession and education.
1) Novices try to consider as many options as possible, then choose the best one. They are hesitant to proceed before examining all possible choices, and the likely resulting outcomes.
2) Experts do not do as the novices do. The difference is not that they sort everything, then make a better, more educated choice.
3) The most unexpected result of these studies, replicated over and over again, at fire scenes and in airline cockpits and operating rooms worldwide: experts evaluate choices just like the novices, but stop sorting as soon as they find one that's good enough and works.
4) They then move on to the next thing, while the novice continues to ruminate and agonize over which choice is the absolute, clear-cut best.
5) By the time the neophytes have made their decision, the burning house is charcoal.
6) Moral of the story: perfect is the enemy of good. Life is imperfect. Get over it, and move on.
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