Today we review the book Rookie Smarts by Liz Wiseman. She argues that in the game of work, learning beats knowing and there is no age limit for it. Even if you are underqualified or novice, we can be at our best. Similarly even after years of experience, we can show the same zeal and dare to dream as the children. 

The question is this really true where the organizations pride in the ways of the world and the lion eats his share, where fresh blood is demanded on the floors and many exit because they couldn’t adapt to the culture and ways. No this book does not address any of those but it does make its case that there are different modes of rookie mindset and they can come in very valuable in the path to success. 

These mindsets she calls Backpacker, Hunter-Gatherer, Firewalker and Pioneer. Rookie smarts addresses the questions every experienced professional faces. Will my skillsets no longer be valued, will I keep up with the changing times ? 

She says lets see some rookie smarts in action and then wonder if we do or do not practice it. The author says seldom do we find the right people at the right job at the right time. More often than not, we face a situation out of our comfort zone.  As we look at what we got to meet the challenge, do we pay attention to exploring and opening avenues for ourselves with the curiosity that drives someone fresh out of college. Yes even the most experienced might see something new in this rookie state. 

Rookie smarts are about living on the learning curve.We see it on the athletic field and in the workplace. With 400 workplace scenarios studied, the author draws these four conclusions: 

First rookies are strong performers. They outperform veterans in the innovation and time to completion. 

Second rookies have a unique success profile. The highest performance rookies connected the dots, experimented and learned from mistakes. 

Third rookies aren’t always what they seem.  They aren’t clueless and bumbling and not always high risk takers. They actually bite just as much as they can chew. 

Finally, the advantage rookies have with regard to their more experience counterparts is that the latter usually have blind spots. 

So let us take a look at the categorizations of the rookie mindset the author presents us with.  

First the backpacker is the rookie that has nothing to weigh them down and nothing to lose. Their mindset is unencumbered as opposed to someone resting on their laurels who demonstrate a protecting mindset. 

Second the hunter gatherer mindset is demonstrated when the rookies don’t know the lay of the land and are forced into a sense making mode. They are alert and seeking.  

Third the firewalker mindset is displayed when we have to operate cautiously because we have to close a knowledge or performance gap quickly.This mindset is cautious and quick. 

 The pioneer mindset also comes with uncharted territory and is one of hunger and relentless pursuit. 

The author argues that with so many things changing so fast around us, we have to be in a perpetual rookie mode.