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With all the election frenzy particularly about Republican Vice President candidate Sarah Palin in the blogosphere, it brings me back to the question, does years of experience matter? This post isn’t about whether Palin is qualified, or even whether McCain or Obama should be president. Rather, it’s a general question of work experience.
For many 20 somethings entering the workforce, many working side by side with their elders and having their experience questioned at ever turn. I often hear things like “I have 20 years of experience doing this and that…” Just having 20 years of experience doesn’t equate to quality. For example, 20 years of experience performing clerical accounts payable does not equal three years of experience as CFO. One year of consulting experience at McKinsey is better than five years of experience processing invoices in accounting.
In fact, in consulting, it’s not experience that counts, it’s the ability to use different methodologies and creative thinking to solve problems, both inside, outside, and somethings in and out of the box. It’s not being a subject matter expert by memorization or by doing it all, it’s the ability to learn a new subject quickly to come up with useful recommendations.
We have an unparalleled depth of both functional and industry expertise as well as breadth of geographical reach. Our scale, scope, and knowledge allow us to address problems that no one else can. At heart, we are a network of people who are passionate about taking on immense challenges that matter to leading organizations, and often, to the world. McKinsey.com
Finally, and also avoiding political discussion but brushing with controversy, Sarah Palin may not have 40 years of experience. She may not have experience in foreign policy, or _________. If, and that’s a big if, she is a good thinker, an innovator, and a leader, then she will be able to shape policy and make great decisions.
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7 RESPONSES TO "DOES EXPERIENCE REALLY MATTER, AT WORK OR IN POLITICS?"
Experience absolutely matters, it can split the difference between Theory vs Practice.
Experience can be count in years (which could creates depth in particular subject)
OR
The # different situations/mistakes the person has been expose to.
The 2 are correlated in most cases.
In Malcolm Galdwell's Blink illustrate it pretty well power of experience.
Someone with years of experience was able differentiate a fake art vs a real in a second, while the analysts took months to figure out.
Experience allows you to develop instincts to tackle complex situations in specific areas - SME. (Example: Why hire a tax accountant to do our taxes?)
Experienced person can recognize cracks & flaws in a workflow/process that someone new don't even knew existed.
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If experience doesn't matter that much, then Why hire 20-somethings when we can just hire teens or kids? They can definitely give fresher ideas than 20-sometings. The difference would be life/social experience (being mature) & experience in learning through 4-10 extra more years of extra schooling.
Is experience alone enough? No. Is what you're speaking of alone enough? No, but it gets you started.
But this also isn't an exclusive situation. We can have both.
What makes an individual a remarkable change agent, leader, etc. is the convergence of the experience and what you're describing.
I would like to learn how to fly a plane, haven't yet though.
I think I might just hop in the pilot seat this weekend, wanna come up with me?
In general, accomplishment matters far more than experience. You could sit on a board for 50 years but if you accomplish nothing, your experience means nothing.
I think we can apply this same rule to politics.
I think what matters most is how can you transcend any experience to fit whatever you are currently doing or would like to do.
I cringe when I hear people say that they have x amount of experience because it sounds great but it really doesn't say anything but that you have been working really hard. In my head I always think screw your past experiences, what can you do now? How does your past help with the present and future? Its not enough to have it, you must use it and evolve it all the time.
Of course, experience matters. If you've done this or similar things, it means that you will pick up things easily, and become productive sooner than someone starting from scratch and learning at my expense.
While experience may not be the only determinant of success, it still counts for something. I see a lot of Gen Y blogs that completely discredit experience, mostly because the authors are somewhat defensive becayse they don't have any, but experience can be valuable. If you can use your experiences to learn from mistakes and improve, your experience is golden.
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