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I really like your magician/blacksmith analogy. I'm in industrial automation, but it's much the same. Projects where someone developed a strategy but has never

I really like your magician/blacksmith analogy. I'm in industrial automation, but it's much the same. Projects where someone developed a strategy but has never been involved in the details of a machine are doomed to failure (or at best to be unreliable and producing low quality parts). Projects built by machine fabricators are over-engineered, frequently late, and sometimes unprofitable, but damn if they don't work well. The main trouble, I think, is that when a shiny new contraption is brought to the king, it's too often the magicians doing the talking - whether they're speaking words of power or Common, their job is to talk. Meanwhile, the blacksmith is probably busy at in his workshop some ornate scroll work for the next thing, or repairing the previous gizmo, because he'd rather be hammering away at his anvil than talking. The higher you go in an org chart, the fewer the number of people who understand the work their company actually does, and the more voices you have between the workers and the decision-makers to take some of the credit for work as it passes up the chain.

hef19898 6y ago
That seems to be true in every field I can think of. The smaller the gap, or rather the more practical experience the strategy people have, the better a given org seems to be. One common issue I run into is that when the blacksmiths start talking, nobody listens.
Rury 6y ago
The funny thing is, even when it's unintentional, people seem to attribute credit to the magician rather than the blacksmith. At my workplace, I even have situations where I explicitly tell people: "I am familiar with X and how (some) of it works, but not all of it. I did not create it nor was it even my idea; all credit goes to Jim. If you need anything to do with X, you're best off asking Jim. But if Jim's too busy to help, I may be able to provide some minor help. Yet even when I do this, I somehow become the arbiter and authority for all problems and questions on X. 5 years go by and everyone thinks X was all my genius. And I hate it, because personally I do not like X created by Jim - even if everyone else does...
- musingsole 6y ago
  Then make sure Jim knows and feels your appreciation. Maybe Jim doesn't want the attention or questions (or at least doesn't value the prestige/benefits at the cost of the attention it requires). Many times the person who will churn out work in a dark, unappreciated corner will continue to do so if 1 person who they respect shows them enough respect in kind. They know the world they're in. No one expects plumbers to get a free lunch even while many know they should.

hef19898 6y ago

That seems to be true in every field I can think of. The smaller the gap, or rather the more practical experience the strategy people have, the better a given org seems to be. One common issue I run into is that when the blacksmiths start talking, nobody listens.

Rury 6y ago

The funny thing is, even when it's unintentional, people seem to attribute credit to the magician rather than the blacksmith. At my workplace, I even have situations where I explicitly tell people: "I am familiar with X and how (some) of it works, but not all of it. I did not create it nor was it even my idea; all credit goes to Jim. If you need anything to do with X, you're best off asking Jim. But if Jim's too busy to help, I may be able to provide some minor help. Yet even when I do this, I somehow become the arbiter and authority for all problems and questions on X. 5 years go by and everyone thinks X was all my genius. And I hate it, because personally I do not like X created by Jim - even if everyone else does...

musingsole 6y ago
Then make sure Jim knows and feels your appreciation. Maybe Jim doesn't want the attention or questions (or at least doesn't value the prestige/benefits at the cost of the attention it requires). Many times the person who will churn out work in a dark, unappreciated corner will continue to do so if 1 person who they respect shows them enough respect in kind. They know the world they're in. No one expects plumbers to get a free lunch even while many know they should.