better-thinkinglisted

# Better Thinking Classify an incoming task by its shape and stakes, and select which skills to deploy at what depth — the dispatcher that decides how much thinking machinery a task deserves. ## Why Applying full machinery to a trivial task wastes effort; applying none to a consequential one is negligent. A fast, explicit classification step routes effort proportionally before substantive work begins. ## Use when / Don't use when - **Use when:** at first contact with any nontrivial task — the entry point other skills dispatch from. - **Don't use when:** never skip it; scale depth down instead — triage on a small task takes seconds. ## Inputs → Outputs - **Inputs:** an incoming task, question, or request. - **Outputs:** a task classification (shape + stakes + reversibility) and a selected set of skills and depth. ## Principles - Classify by shape first — decision, diagnosis, research question, creative generation, communication, learning, negotiation, or a combination. Shape determines which skill family is even relevant. - Classify by stakes and reversibility second. This determines depth, independent of shape. - A task can be routine in domain but high-stakes in consequence — don't classify by surface topic or tone alone. - Resolve vague or underspecified language before routing — routing a fuzzy restatement of the request just picks the wrong tool with more confidence. - Re-triage if the task's real shape differs once underway; the initial classification is a hypot