Is the user smarter than I am?

Hey man, that's a really good question, one that many product and tech folks have pondered.

This needs to be looked at differently. It's not about who's smarter than whom; it's about entirely different roles and perspectives.

Let's take an analogy. You're a top-tier automotive engineer, capable of building the world's most powerful engine. You understand the principle behind every component, the meaning of every parameter. Your user, on the other hand, is a truck driver who drives long distances every day.

When it comes to "how to build a car," you are undoubtedly the expert, miles ahead of him.

However, when it comes to "how to drive a car" and "how good is this car to use," he is the expert. He knows which brand of brake pads lasts longer, at what angle to adjust the seat so his back doesn't ache after a day's driving, and how difficult that cool-looking touchscreen you designed is to use on a bumpy road. He might even use your car in ways you never imagined, like boiling eggs with the cigarette lighter (don't laugh, it really happens).

At this point, can you say he's dumber than you? No. Because in his own domain, with his own needs and scenarios, he is far more professional than you.

The same principle applies to us in product development.

You are an engineer, an expert in "solutions." You know how to implement a feature, which architecture is most stable, and which algorithm is most efficient.

Users, on the other hand, are experts in "problems." They know best what their workflow is like, which steps are most annoying, and where time is most wasted. They might not understand technology at all, but they can tell you most directly: "With your software, I have to wait five minutes every time I export a report, and my boss has already chewed me out for it."

See, they might not propose solutions, but they can identify the most critical problems.

So, never entertain the thought of "are users smarter than me?" This will prevent you from truly listening to their voices. Your intelligence should be used to deeply understand users' "clumsy methods" and "seemingly naive needs," and then leverage your technical skills to deliver a solution that truly impresses them.

Remember, users will always understand themselves better than you do. Your job is to serve this "expert" well.