FINDING AN EXPERT: Look for The Past Performance

When we have a problem—medical, legal, or construction—we often seek help from those who can solve it.

Frequently, we look among the professionals and find one with a proper certificate who, unfortunately, cannot solve our problem effectively. We must look for an expert, not merely a professional; with expertise, past performance is the best predictor of the future. Ask others, preferably people you know and trust, including trust in their competence.

If there is none, the Web is the most extensive collection of “the others.” It can and should be exploited, yet we encounter the 3J dilemma. We don’t know the reviewers and cannot gauge what stands behind the appraisal, “He is fabulous. I have never encountered a better lawyer…” Even if it is not the person himself or his friends writing the review, we do not know the expertise of the unknown Jane to judge Jill.

{JANE JUDGES JILL (3J), EXPERT, EXPERT VS. PROFESSIONAL, TRUST, FAIL FORWARD}