Army Lessons Learned 3 : Experience Matters, But Not As Much As You Might Think
In the Army, there’s a deep reverence for experience. It’s not just acknowledged, it’s visibly honored through badges, medals, and insignia. These symbols are not just decorative; they communicate a message of authority and expertise. The absence of such decorations can often imply a lack of experience, unfairly or not. The Army’s promotion system, which operates on an ‘up or out’ basis, maintains a relatively uniform age among leaders in similar roles, further emphasizing the weight of experience.
However, what I’m about to express might sound like heresy to some. Experience is invaluable, certainly, but it also has its pitfalls. It can lead to a resistance to new ideas, a vulnerability to unexpected changes, and a tendency to become set in one’s ways. This is a universal truth, evident to anyone who has attempted to introduce new technology to someone set in their old ways. The adage that you “can’t teach an old dog new tricks” captures this sentiment.
Experience can be a double-edged sword: it’s a gatekeeper for the young and a bastion for the experienced. However, the more experience one accumulates, the greater the risk of becoming closed-minded and dismissive of innovation. Acknowledging and guarding against this bias is essential to prevent experience from blinding you to new opportunities.
My time in graduate school, reflecting on my Army experience and navigating the civilian job market, has brought this into sharper focus. Despite my diverse military background, I’ve often encountered the notion that I lack “industry” or “technical” experience. Yet, I’ve seen many who, despite not meeting the traditional 10,000-hour rule for mastering a skill, excel in their fields. This rule, popularized by Malcolm Gladwell in “Outliers,” suggests that mastery requires extensive, focused practice. But what if this isn’t the whole picture?
“Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World” by David Epstein challenged my thinking on this. The book argues that our overemphasis on experience might be misguided. Epstein suggests that experience is essentially about pattern recognition, but in a world increasingly dominated by AI and machine learning — fields that excel in pattern recognition — what role does human experience play?
Epstein cites examples from chess, where computers have outperformed grandmasters. The interesting twist, however, is when humans and machines collaborate, emphasizing that while machines excel in tactics, humans bring strategic and abstract thinking to the table. It’s in the unpredictable, the non-pattern-based scenarios, where humans have an edge.
This revelation has practical implications. It suggests that we should cultivate adaptability, embrace diverse experiences, and not fear straying from a narrow path of specialization. As McKinsey points out in the quote and graphic below, default behavioral patterns, especially under stress, can hinder adaptability.
“Unless the brain learns something new, it will forecast what will happen based on what it has seen and learned before. That is why people default to certain behavioral patterns, especially under stress. Some want to control the situation. Others tend to see themselves as victims, claiming everything is out of their control and shutting down.
Our default patterns may serve to protect us in the moment. But ultimately, they may hinder our ability to adapt and respond in ways that a new situation requires. Often, we realize this is the case only after an interaction in which our default patterns have caused friction in a relationship. These can be missed opportunities to take a proactive approach to the situation.”(McKinsey)
My personal journey echoes this. My varied experiences — from being an infantry officer to studying foreign languages, working on a farm, and pursuing hobbies like hiking and skydiving — have all contributed to my adaptability and problem-solving skills. This diverse background has not only enriched my professional life but has also enhanced my academic pursuits.
My bookshelf, with its wide array of subjects, from military history to science fiction, cookbooks to philosophy, mirrors this concept of ‘range.’ I’ve found that this breadth of knowledge and experience has consistently provided me with a unique perspective and a versatile skill set.
So, while I acknowledge the value of experience, I also advocate for a more balanced approach that values range and adaptability. In a world where the only constant is change, being able to adapt, think creatively, and draw from a wide array of experiences is not just useful; it’s essential.
Deeper Dive Recommended Readings:
Range: Why Generalist Triumph in a Specialized World — David Epstein
Future Proof: Solving the ‘Adaptability’ Paradox for the Long Term
Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don’t Know — Adam Grant
The First 20 hours — how to learn anything. TEDTalk. — Josh Kaufman
