This is my favourite bunch. Poetic, confident, incisive.
We know them as “experts”.
The problem crops up when you put them to the real-life test. Most of them underperform. Or better: they’re good theorists.
Universities are producing a huge number of jargon-filled experts nowadays.
So, how do you identify a potential expert from the rest?
I use the following heuristic:
Step-1: Listen to them without interruption. Look for jargon. Do they substitute jargon when a simple word could be used?
Step-2: Ask them why questions. Socratic line of questioning.
Step-3: If step-2 is satisfactory, ask for their personal experience. Experience that supports their reasoning.
Outcome: You will know if you have a genuine expert or a jargon guy in front of you.
If it’s a jargon guy, enjoy the poems.