Analyze. Decide. Execute.
That's all you need. Literally.
If you can analyze your situation well, make a solid decision, and execute effectively, bad luck is the only thing between you and career glory.
Now, these three meta-skills feed off a bunch of sub-skills, abilities, and competencies.
So here's something different.
I'm giving you a gigantic list of nested topics under these three meta-skills.
Take this overview as a primer.
Maybe you'll think, "Huh, never thought of it this way," or even, "Wow, this makes a ton of sense!"
If not, well, you still have a cool list.
1. Analysis Skills
Understanding Data and Information
- Know the difference between data, information, and knowledge.
- Differentiate anecdotal data from data patterns.
- Distinguish correlation from causation.
- Avoid the "tick the box" problem.
- Separate signal from noise.
Extracting Knowledge from Data and Information
- Understand binary vs. probabilistic thinking.
- Grasp discrete vs. continuous thinking.
- Don't fall for false dichotomies.
- Steer clear of base rate errors.
- Avoid causal reduction errors.
- Recognize survivorship bias.
- Apply Occam's Razor.
2. Decision-Making Skills
Understanding the Decision-Making Process
- Define decision drivers and weigh their importance:
- Available resources (talent, money)
- Time-boxed vs. quality-boxed
- "Good enough" vs. "perfect"
- Variability of resources
- Knowns vs. unknowns
- Risk of bad decisions
- Unknown unknowns
- Overall objectives
- Understand or define the decision style:
- Cooperative (2-3 leaders decide together)
- Democratic (team majority decides)
- Unilateral (one person decides)
- Make sure everyone knows the decision style and responsibilities.
Leveraging Effective Decision-Making Heuristics
- Focus on high-leverage decisions:
- That influence the whole process
- That impact many people's work
- That determine broad directions
- Understand higher-order consequences.
- Apply explore vs. exploit strategies.
- Grasp necessity vs. sufficiency.
3. Execution Skills
Turning Ideas into Structured, Flexible Action
- Know what leaders decide vs. what teams decide along the way.
- Regularly check in and communicate effectively with your team.
- Report progress contextually and effectively.
- Zoom out to decide on pivots or adjustments.
- Identify "achieve-or-die" milestones:
- If you don't hit these, the whole project fails.
- Reverse-engineer how to reach them fast and with minimal risk.
Effective Execution
- Master self-organization and self-management.
- Develop required technical abilities.
- Hone your focus.
Unsurprisingly, almost all of these come with a whole set of their own skills, abilities, and talents you need to be good at them.
And that’s exactly why, despite all the bullshit around it, continuous personal development will always be underrated.
Cheers,
Phil
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P.S.: Developing these 3 meta skills requires the right ideas, tools and resources.
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