The Best and the Brightest

I am not, and have never been, the best or the brightest. In school, during public examinations, in medical school, I was not the best; not the top dog; never the prize winner; not the one in a million. I did OKAY, I got my As, and my first classes, and the top fews; but never the best and the brightest.

It was not from the lack of opportunity; I had every chance that my parents could give (my eternal thanks to them, and more); and it probably was not from lack of trying either. I fought the fight, I ran the run, I stayed the course. But I am just not the best nor the brightest. That's okay with me.

But recently, I have been worrying about this a bit more. I now in the course of my work and duties, provide advice, training, direction and guidance to quite a few others. Am I the best person to do this ? Isn't there someone better, who would do a better job at it, who is better qualified, and has better ideas, and skills ? Shouldn't the best and the brightest around be doing this leadership role ?

It seems that this problem is quite pervasive in Malaysia today. Experts are few and far between. Fake experts and CONsultants are everywhere. People giving all sorts of advice, when they are not experts in the field, just by virtue of their position of power or leadership. Desk officers in Ministries who think that they are experts because day in day out, they get letters asking them for advice. Political leaders that think that they are economic experts or government experts because they won the last election.

This is dangerous. The position as an advisor or an expert is one with heavy responsibilities, and really should be delegated to real experts, real consultants. Leaders, instead of pretending to be experts, should learn to listen to experts; appoint them, task them with the duty and listen to their advice; then decide and lead the way. The Penang Govt, in selecting a panel of experts to advice them on hill-slope development is done the correct thing. It would seem obvious, but it was never done before this.

In the course of my work, I have luckily realize this early. I have sought opinions from others; and their advice without consideration for rank or hierarchy; looking more for experience and ability than anything else. This, I will consider, one of the best things that I have done. It has prevented me from developing too big an ego; made me appreciate different perspectives and very often, avoided making a fool of myself.

Let the best and brightest be the experts. Let the rest of us be humble, and continually learn from the collective experience of others around us.