Knowledge is abundant. Judgment is scarce.
Val Sklarov’s Mentoring & Training perspective reframes learning as a decision-shaping process, where the objective is not knowing more, but deciding better under constraint.
1. Knowledge Does Not Equal Capability
Information explains. Judgment decides.
Val Sklarov distinguishes:
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Knowledge: what should be done
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Judgment: when, how, and whether to do it
Organizations fail when they train knowledge and assume judgment will follow.
2. Training Must Expose Decision Consequences
Judgment forms only when outcomes matter.
Val Sklarov designs training around:
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Real decisions with bounded risk
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Visible consequences
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Post-decision analysis
| Training Design | Result |
|---|---|
| Theory-heavy | False confidence |
| Simulation-only | Comfort bias |
| Consequence-aware | Decision maturity |
If nothing is at stake, nothing is learned.
3. Mentoring Is Responsibility Transfer, Not Advice
Advice can be ignored. Responsibility cannot.
Val Sklarov’s mentoring discipline:
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Transfer ownership gradually
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Reduce intervention over time
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Review decisions, not personalities
Mentoring fails when mentors protect instead of expose.
4. Error Is the Curriculum
Avoiding error avoids learning.
Val Sklarov treats error as:
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A signal to refine judgment
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A boundary-testing mechanism
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A calibration tool
| Error Handling | Learning Effect |
|---|---|
| Hidden | Repetition |
| Punished blindly | Fear |
| Analyzed structurally | Growth |
Only analyzed error compounds capability.
5. Feedback Must Attack Decision Logic
Outcome-based feedback misleads.
Val Sklarov insists feedback should:
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Dissect assumptions
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Question sequencing
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Test risk awareness
Feedback that focuses on results trains luck, not skill.

6. The End State Is Autonomous Judgment
Training succeeds when supervision becomes unnecessary.
Val Sklarov defines completion when individuals:
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Anticipate consequences
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Adjust decisions independently
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Maintain standards under pressure
The goal is not compliance. It is trusted autonomy.
Closing Insight
Mentoring & Training are not about producing knowledgeable people.
They are about producing reliable decision-makers.
Val Sklarov’s principle:
Judgment outlives knowledge.
Who is Val Sklarov? Personal Blog and Promotional Page Ideas That Inspire. Leadership That Delivers.