Professional Discernment is Your Most Underrated Superpower
In my years of leading operations, building systems, coaching and mentoring, I've witnessed a pattern that keeps emerging across all levels and industries when wrangling gnarly problems. The challenge of choosing which problems to solve isn't just about capability—it's about discernment. This skill, while crucial, is one where I've seen even the most talented professionals stumble. Let me share three common failure modes that might feel painfully familiar. And believe me, I’ve fallen victim to every single one.
The Hero Complex
I feel like I'm fighting fires everywhere," a team member once confided. There was exhaustion in their voice that I recognized all too well. They had become the go-to person for every crisis, taking on problems across teams and departments. While their intentions were noble, they were spread too thin to create meaningful impact anywhere.
I see this pattern repeat itself with heartbreaking regularity: talented professionals who say yes to every problem that crosses their path, driven by a genuine desire to help. But by trying to be everyone's hero, they dilute their impact and burn themselves out. True discernment means understanding that saying no to some problems enables you to say a fuller yes to others.
The Comfort Zone Trap
Then there's what I call the "comfort zone trap." I've watched senior technologists exclusively choose problems that match their existing skillset. They gravitate toward optimization tasks they can solve in their sleep, avoiding challenges that might stretch them into unfamiliar territory. I know this trap intimately—there's a seductive safety in staying within the boundaries of what we know we can execute flawlessly.
While leveraging our strengths is important, this approach can lead to stagnation. The most valuable problems often live at the edge of our comfort zone—not so far out that we're completely lost, but just far enough to push us to grow. It’s a razor edge but one that you have to find for yourself and lean in to. Discernment isn't about always choosing what's comfortable; it's about recognizing which uncomfortable challenges are worth pursuing.
The Strategic Disconnect
Perhaps the most subtle failure mode is what I've come to call the "strategic disconnect." I've observed countless talented individuals who consistently deliver impressive solutions to problems that, unfortunately, don't align with their organization's strategic direction.
They pour months into perfecting features that, while technically elegant, don't move the needle on company priorities. This taught me that discernment isn't just about identifying interesting problems—it's about understanding which problems matter in your specific context.
Finding Your Sweet Spot
Through years of trial and error, I've learned that impactful work lies at the intersection of three elements:
Your Skill Set - Being brutally honest about our capabilities isn't easy, but it's essential. It's not about what we wish we could do, but what we can execute with excellence right now. This doesn't mean never stretching, but rather building from a foundation of strength.
Organizational Value - Understanding what your company truly values requires more than reading mission statements.Spoiler alert, company culture and what is valued can be wildly divergent from anything written in the “mission statement”. Getting an accurate sense of what It means to provide value and have impact requires genuine conversations with leaders and colleagues to understand the broader organizational context. It requires paying attention to what is rewarded at your company and what is ignored or sidelined. This helps ensure our efforts align with where the company is heading, not just where it is today and is the kind of work that will be valued and acknowledged.
Time-Based Impact I've developed a habit of planning in multiple time horizons:
One week: What can create immediate positive change?
One month: Which foundational elements need to be put in place?
One quarter: How can these efforts compound into larger impact?
One year: What seeds am I planting for long-term growth?
The Practice of Discernment
The process I use now for evaluating potential problems has been shaped by countless missteps and occasional victories. Before diving into any problem, I sit with it. No immediate jumping to solutions. Instead, I ask myself:
Why does this problem exist?
Who feels this pain most acutely?
What would a successful solution look like in 6 months? In 2 years?
Do I have unique insight into this problem?
Can I leverage my existing skills and knowledge?
Will solving this problem help me grow in a direction that matters?
Is there anyone else more suited to working on this problem?
Will this be solved if I don’t do it?
You don’t have to have a perfect answer to all of these, but you should be able to see some alignment between your skills and the importance and urgency of the problem before you dive into solutions mode,
Beyond the Immediate
The most valuable lessons I've learned about discernment came from my failures—times when I chose problems that were flashy but ultimately hollow, or when I selected challenges that were important but not well-aligned with my abilities to execute.
Now, I understand that true discernment is about seeing beyond the immediate. It's about understanding that every problem we choose to tackle is an investment – of our time, energy, and professional capital. Don’t waste it!
A Call to Thoughtful Action
I challenge you to take a step back and examine the problems you're currently trying to solve. Are they aligned with your strengths? Do they contribute to meaningful organizational goals? Will they matter in a year?
Remember, discernment isn't about playing it safe. It's about being intentional with your impact. It's about understanding that in a world of infinite problems, choosing the right ones to solve is often more important than how you solve them.
The next time you're faced with a potential problem to tackle, ask yourself: "Is this the best use of my unique position and capabilities?" Your future self will thank you for exercising discernment.
