The Savant's dilemma occurs when the only reliable method of receiving recognition for your work is to cease working on it, thereby letting the project or effort die.
This typically occurs as a younger person of abnormally high skill is transitioning through the ranks but has not yet been universally recognized for their contributions.
It is particularly likely when such a skilled person is placed on a project that includes more senior people of broader influence and visibility. The outperformer may have no real path to gain visibility since people not on the project will naturally assume the success of the project should be attributed mostly to the person(s) who already have greater visibility. As the outperformer contributes more and more to the project, a greater share of recognition is diverted away from them.
Once this situation occurs, it may be in the savant's interest to leave the project, and let it die. In doing so, the savant receives recognition in hindsight. By not leaving, the savant expands the misconception and hinders his or her career.
To avoid this, invisible savants should avoid being on projects from their beginning, unless they are given the senior role. They can join a troubled project mid-way through, even in a non-senior role, provided the state of the project is widely understood. Their addition to the project will prompt questions of "what changed", thereby giving them visibility in spite of the lack of official title.
This typically occurs as a younger person of abnormally high skill is transitioning through the ranks but has not yet been universally recognized for their contributions.
It is particularly likely when such a skilled person is placed on a project that includes more senior people of broader influence and visibility. The outperformer may have no real path to gain visibility since people not on the project will naturally assume the success of the project should be attributed mostly to the person(s) who already have greater visibility. As the outperformer contributes more and more to the project, a greater share of recognition is diverted away from them.
Once this situation occurs, it may be in the savant's interest to leave the project, and let it die. In doing so, the savant receives recognition in hindsight. By not leaving, the savant expands the misconception and hinders his or her career.
To avoid this, invisible savants should avoid being on projects from their beginning, unless they are given the senior role. They can join a troubled project mid-way through, even in a non-senior role, provided the state of the project is widely understood. Their addition to the project will prompt questions of "what changed", thereby giving them visibility in spite of the lack of official title.
What happened to project X, it sounded like it was going so well?
Bob left.
But he wasn't the lead on that, what's the problem?
Well, he's the one who actually was doing everything. He moved to project Y, which was a mess till he got there.
So it was the savant's dilemma?
Yeah, but at least he won't be in that situation again.
Bob left.
But he wasn't the lead on that, what's the problem?
Well, he's the one who actually was doing everything. He moved to project Y, which was a mess till he got there.
So it was the savant's dilemma?
Yeah, but at least he won't be in that situation again.
by theEngineerGuide August 5, 2018
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So you’ve met this amazing girl, but she’s from different country? Man, that’s some proper marine dilemma - you’re gonna have to come with a solution, you’ve never used before.
by Mr.Nobody2 January 1, 2020
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We traumatized out uber driver by discussing the philosophical merits of Holder’s Dilemma, and how Aristotle himself was quoted as saying, “fuck dude I don’t know, the hell is wrong with you?”.
by the_real_jack_holder June 7, 2025
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by Summer Vacation May 31, 2021
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The situation one faces when deciding whether or not to stroke and if so, for how long. It is usually present when another more important activity should supersede stroking, but one wants to make time for stroking nonetheless. It is more commonly encountered during the day (when one has more to do) than at night for those who are not nocturnal.
I resolved my stroker's dilemma by affirming to myself that it's a normal and healthy activity - like eating or sleeping. I'll catch the next train.
by goyo May 2, 2017
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tyler: then unfriend him?
Finch: no.
tyler: ur in The Finch Dilemma
tyler: then unfriend him?
Finch: no.
tyler: ur in The Finch Dilemma
by deadbunniegf May 22, 2022
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