Controversial opinion: Sometimes, the best Systems Engineers are the ones who know less.
Sounds crazy, right? But hear me out. 👇
There's power in strategic ignorance, and here's why it matters:
1. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗹𝘆𝘀𝗶𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗔𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘆𝘀𝗶𝘀
Ever found yourself so deep in the weeds that you can't see the forest for the trees? Yeah, me too. It's a common trap for us detail-oriented folks.
2. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗶𝗴 𝗣𝗶𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗕𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀
When we're hyper-focused on one component, we risk missing critical system-level issues. It's like optimizing a cog while the whole machine is about to fall apart.
3. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗦𝗶𝗻𝗸
Time is always our most precious resource. Spending hours on a minor subsystem might feel productive, but is it really moving the needle?
So how do we strike the right balance?
• Develop a systematic approach to assessing which details are critical
• Regularly reassess this balance as the project evolves
• Trust your team of experts
• Focus on interfaces and interactions, not just individual components
Your value as a Systems Engineer lies in your ability to navigate complexity, not drown in it.
The next time you're tempted to dive deep into every technical rabbit hole, ask yourself: "𝘐𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘥𝘦𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘭 𝘤𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘺𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘮'𝘴 𝘴𝘶𝘤𝘤𝘦𝘴𝘴, 𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘮 𝘐 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘴𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘴𝘧𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘺 𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘰𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘺?"
Sometimes, the most powerful thing you can do is step back and say, "𝗜 𝗱𝗼𝗻'𝘁 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗻𝗼𝘄."
What's your take? Have you ever found yourself bogged down in unnecessary details? How do you maintain that high-level perspective?
I'm running a discussion group on "Strategic Positioning for Systems Engineers." Send me a message if you're interested.
Alex Toth
@alexxtoth
I explain complex systems in a simple way! Building the future while guiding YOU to do the same. Systems Addict! Services: use.toth.al/profile/produc…
