Landon+Woolf


 * Landon's Page**

__**Reading Response**__

I wholeheartedly agree with the point made in this article regarding expertise. Additionally, I found the article to be motivational. I discovered that my approach to problem solving has often been with the intent of being able to cross it off a list. In many areas of my life I am one to embrace automaticity, though, at times, I have unfortunately not attempted to move beyond.

Recently I read a book titled __Better: A Surgeon's Notes on Performance.__ In it the author discusses many similar principles taught in this article. He notes that, on average, close to 40% of patients checked into hospitals contract an infection while in the hospital (remember this next time you go to a hospital). Public Health gurus the world over had tried and tried to reduce that number. It is common knowledge (and proven by research) that if nurses and doctors would simply wash their hands, the percentage of those infected would decrease dramatically. Hospital administrators have put up signs, created incentive programs, installed antibacterial dispensers, but nothing has worked. Finally, someone decided that the problem was not in doctors not washing their hands, it was in the programs instituted to encourage them to do so. So, they decided to do something different. To make a short story long, one hospital in Pittsburgh was able to decrease their infection percentage to 0% simply by attacking the problem differently.After reaching a level of automaticity in much of what they were doing, they decided to use their resources to improve. Not only that, but they were able to see the problem as more complex than they had viewed it originally.

I believe that there are Gospel parallels to these ideas. We are to be improving constantly. The only way we can do so is by investing mental resources into self evaluation. Complacency (being in a rut) is in opposition to the plan. Additionally, as we grow and progress spiritually it is common to recognize and feel bad about things in our lives that we were comfortable with before. This process of expertise is as heroic as it is doctrinal.

Landon: I think this information could benefit anyone in any career. I have often felt so overwhelmed at work, that I found myself falling into the problem elimination mode just to try to put out the hottest fires. I flatter myself, thinking that I would of course move to problem solving mode as soon as I get under control. But it is easy to see how the problem elimination is an easy trap to fall into. I think your comparison to the Gospel can also give insight into what our actions as professional or parents or whatever endeavor we embark on should be. Upward and onward and improve. P.S. That is a fascinating story about the hospital. I will ask the nurse in the future if she has washed her hands. Randy

Hannah's response: I also found this article motivational (as did profe martinsen I think, which is one of the reasons he chose it). What a great way to end a teaching class: to be reminded to view life not just as a check list to reduce as much as possible, but as a challenge to continually be solving! I liked your connection, Landon, to the hospital's story. I think re-evaluating problems, viewing them from a different angle, even if that makes the problem seem more complex, is so refreshing. And it often leads to much better results than just attacking the problem the same way over and over again with more force.

Landon: I thought for sure there would be a Jimmer reference in your response. I enjoyed your reference to the hospital in Pittsburgh. The problem was not being solved so they kept trying until they found a new more effective way to deal with it. I think the key to become expert at something is not thinking you are an expert at something, or anything for that matter. That way you are constantly progressing and learning. I agree that the process of investing mental resources is how one can become more expert in our chosen fields. It takes time and effort that many do not want to invest because of trivial pursuits. - Mark