Balancing Knowledge and Experience

There comes a time when every arborist must learn how to trust their gut.

It’s a skill that comes majorly from experience and from working with other professionals that have mastered the craft themselves. Of course, textbooks, courses, and licenses can help develop the backbone of your industry “sixth sense,” but no manual can teach you how to hone your intuition.

There’s a trope in a lot of law enforcement drama shows that demonstrates the dichotomy of written knowledge versus innate knowledge. One detective is usually the by-the-books fellow that follows the law with strict adherence, leaving very little room for gray area. The other is just the opposite, relying on their perception of the situation to guide their methodology and decisions.

As you can guess, the two can’t solve the mystery without their partner. Without solid textbook knowledge, the intuitive detective can get into some trouble with some risky methods. But without that gut-sense, the by-the-books detective may miss some huge indicators hiding between the lines of the written law.

The same is true on the job.

Take, for example, when the removal of a historic tree is in question. One arborist may identify the species, evaluate the defect, estimate the extent of decay, assess targets, understand compartmentalization, reference ANSI standards, and apply risk-assessment methodologies.

Another arborist might stand beneath the tree and notice subtle indicators: how the canopy has responded over the last several years, whether the tree appears to be adapting to the defect, how the wood “sounds” when probed, how the site drains after rain, or whether the client’s tolerance for risk aligns with preservation.

Both strategies are pivotal to survival or removal of the tree, and there’s often a chance that one comes easier to an arborist than the other. The trick is creating balance between them both. Over time, the written knowledge becomes experience, and experience begins to sharpen intuition. Eventually, what once felt like a guess becomes informed judgment.

The best arborists are the professionals who can blend the two perspectives — grounding their decisions in sound arboricultural principles while remaining observant enough to recognize the details that no textbook can fully explain.

As you read this issue, consider where your own strengths lie. Are you building your technical foundation? Are you seeking opportunities to learn from experienced professionals? Are you putting yourself in situations that challenge your assumptions and expand your perspective?

In arboriculture, as in many professions, expertise is not simply knowing the right answer. It’s developing the judgment to recognize when the answer isn’t obvious.

Stay grounded,

Amy Kent