In April 2014, I received my Naval Flight Officer Wings. It was a wonderful day and marked the end of two years of flight training, but what was memorable about that day for me was receiving a piece of advice that has probably defined my career both in the air and on the ground.
“You need to get comfortable with making decisions with only 80% of the information.”
It was that simple.
One big things I struggled with as a new Junior Officer was trying to understand my authority within the context of the Navy. Why was I entrusted, albeit only a small amount as a LTJG, and what was being asked of me?
So when I was told that simple line from a Navy Captain who had spoken at my Winging, it sat with me, and still sits with me.
It’s easy to make decisions with 100% of the information (high likelihood of being correct), and in some ways, even easier with 0% of the the information (if you’re wrong, it’s not really your fault).
But to be comfortable making decisions at 80%, that’s a skill.
It’s not even necessarily being right with just 80% of information, it’s about being comfortable making a decision, informed by your experience and education.
Another phrase that I think aligns and maybe is a corollary to this concept comes from Voltaire:
“Le meglio รจ l’inimico del bene” or “Perfect is the enemy of good.”
I can’t even count the number of times while instructing students in airborne command and control that they hesitated and missed an opportunity to drive the direction of a fight. Principally, the root cause of that hesitation comes down to “I needed more information.”
Some things to think about:
- What’s an example in your personal or professional life where you made a decision with just 80% of the information? Was it a good decision? Why?
- When have you allowed perfect to be the enemy of good?
