…there is a ranking system, similar to martial arts, which indicates the level of skill of a player. There are basically two tracks players embark on; a series of KYU levels from thirty (30) down to one (1) for beginners then the DAN ranks from one (1) to nine (9) for amateurs and professionals.
Go players usually keep within their playing/skill level with some forays into either engaging with slightly lower-level keeners and/or challenging higher-level players in order to level up.
The same scenario plays out in much of our daily work and life. Where we find ourselves is often within a certain collective of like-minded and similarly capable people. One can work with a person a few levels down or a few levels up but jumping those barriers too much for too long a time can cause a great deal of unnecessary stress or possible stagnation.
Putting a person in charge of an endeavour too advanced for them or expecting someone to work with a group well below their present capabilities does not seem to be the most intelligent way to help people do their best and most creative work.
In the original myth of Icarus, his Father Daedalus warned him against flying too high or the sun would melt the wax holding his wings together. What is not as well known is that he also alerted him to not fly too low for fear the sea water would weigh down his wings.
Beyond the ideas of personal initiative (levelling up) and mentoring, it’s wise to be aware of the situations around us, making sure that both our colleagues and ourselves are not ‘biting off way more than we can chew’ while, at the same time, ‘not flying too low.’
We seem to have to continually navigate between levelling up without the hubris of flying too high and the safe haven of mediocrity of aiming too low.
Written while listening to Alban Berg mix
Nothing worth noting stood out in my online reading over the last few weeks.
William Kerr And associates 