# Experts by Proximity By:: [[Brian Heath]] 2024-08-04 Long-term proximity often creates a delusion that one fully understands how the thing works. If one works for 40 years with one organization, one is assumed to know how that organization works fully. Thus, it is further assumed that one is a master of operating within that system. Additionally, this is supported by the idea that 10,000 hours is about how much practice a person needs to be excellent at something. Therefore, we suspect this 40-year veteran has at least 72,000 hours of practice within the organization. So, it seems reasonable that this person is a deep expert. However, consider whether this is true if the person has yet to attempt to understand the organization or try to see how it responds to new things. If a person never actually "practices" but only "exists," how much expertise can this person gain? Many watch sporting events over the years to accumulate well over 10,000 hours, but they are not remotely close to being experts in that sport. They may only be experts in watching the sport. Just because one has spent years near a thing does not mean one is an expert, even though many assume one is. This assumption is a heuristic based on social courtesy and respecting one's elders. It is not based on any indication of accuracy. Avoid falling into the expert by proximity trap by respecting humans as humans, but realizing the power of the status quo keeps many from ever asking why. #### Related Items [[Expertise]] [[Proximity]] [[Heuristics]] [[Status Quo]] [[Change]] [[Organization]] [[Practice]]