We need to separate expertise and authority to defend against the influence of authority. Simply asking ourselves, “Is this authority an expert on the topic?” and “How truthful can we expect this expert to be?” will help with the separation. Once the authority’s influence is separated, it’s easy to destroy its influence and make a better judgment and decision. This method will help with purchasing products (as many products use well-known people to establish authority wrongly) and with following leaders at work (not every comment of a leader signals their expertise; sometimes, people have an opinion without knowledge).
- Related Note(s):
- Separation of career paths is a good way to separate expertise and authority.
- The software architect is a role that sits between authority and expertise.
- When guiding direct reports as a manager, find the correct information to guide experts. Don’t be vague. When getting feedback, understand what information you’re missing.
