Have you ever tried to teach Microsoft Windows to a person who knows nothing about computers?
Probably not. Think about it for a moment. Where would you even start? Could you explain why the My Documents folder is on the C drive even though it looks like it’s at the same level as the C drive? Or how someone is supposed to know when they should single click vs. double-click?
If you’ve ever tried to explain or teach something, you have often found yourself frustrated that you couldn’t communicate as clearly as you’d hoped to. Every time you try, and the other person does not yet understand, you begin to grasp that your assumptions are greater you’d realized. Much greater.
It is impossible to not know something once you have learned it. You have passed the point of "know return" (sorry, heh, couldn’t resist).
But those who know often must teach those who don’t. Bit of a problem, don’t you think? The more you know, the harder it is to communicate the basics.
There’s a phrase for this: the curse of knowledge. For many years, I’ve been teaching people–absolute beginners–how to use Microsoft Windows, how to surf the web, how to use Excel, and many other subjects. With all that practice, I’ve become skilled at explaining things in a way that’s easy to understand by beginners.
Yet, even still, the curse of knowledge haunts me. Every time I write a post and I think I’ve written something too simple, I always get a lot of positive feedback.
Beginner’s Mind
There is an Eastern philosophical perception hack called Beginner’s Mind. To cultivate beginner’s mind is to see things anew. To never become jaded. To brand that beginner’s experience into your empathic memory, so you can call it up and relive it at will. This is how I am successful at writing for beginners. It’s an exercise in empathy and understanding.
And tomorrow, I will have a new book for you that I’ve written for people who don’t have a website yet or who do but they feel like they don’t even know what they don’t know about the process of getting a site or hiring a designer.
Stay tuned…
Great post!
I have recently begun to teach what I know and I have hit this road block. I have now started to approach teaching the same way I noticed that I was looking at Google everyday… to notice little nuances that I may be able to use to improve rankings. I could have only of done this by approaching Google as a beginner everyday.
It’s a mental state (approaching things with a beginners mind) to remember to look at things as though you are seeing it for the first time. To sit back and look at the entire screen and click on every button. I find if this has allowed me to notice great new finds.
You can see some of the discoveries I made by taking this approach.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ApWe8rW1NY
I think “Beginner’s Mind” can teach even the “knowledgeable” a ton more!
It’s easy not to notice things or how you do something because it has become a reflex or muscle memory. It’s driving home work, ever notice you don’t remember how you got home…? Scary, right! But it’s just “muscle memory”. However, when it comes to teach this muscle memory isn’t very useful. It has been a real treat to go back to everything I have digested over the years and re-visit it all with a beginners mind approach.
Something every online veteran should do once in awhile. You be surprised at what you discover.
@Matthew – Exactly. The true beginner is naturally in a state of beginner’s mind. The veteran has to work at achieving that state. If you’ve ever seen a tech geek try to explain something to a beginner and fail to get through, you see how challenging it can be.
Smiling. Ah so, Martine. Across disciplines, this is a very good concept.
http://cartierpaintingaday.blogspot.com/2008/08/beginners-mind.html ( if you will allow it )
I think it shows in one’s eyes, this ability to attain a Beginner’s Mind. I think they sparkle more.
Teaching raw beginners also teaches us more about what it is we do, each step another layer. Essences unfold.
@Janice – Eloquently put! Nothing teaches like teaching.
Thanks, you.
Beginner’s Mind… I’ve never heard it put quite this way before, but it’s so true. My favorite example is trying to help my mother update her 401k via the (gasp) internet. My mother is terrified of computers, so concepts like “click here” are lost on her. Mouse? What’s that? Seriously. This is how it went the first time. It’s a much more endearing example than my antics in trying to explain blogging to lawyers (which is how I spend several hours per day). I’ve found that I’m a better teacher in person, when I’m able to see/feel whether the person is getting it. Teaching someone something by email is much more difficult.
Happy to have found your blog (via Brett).
@Amy – Welcome! I think this is starting to change as younger people move into law, but still for now lawyers tend to be a tech-challenged group. Not good when tech matters must be decided in a courtroom!
Very true! In my paralegal days, I spent a good amount of time helping tech-challenged folks try to understand powerpoint. I guess that was my training for the blog world.
Very good overview of this, Michael. From the clarity of your writing throughout, I guess it’s obvious that you’ve put a lot of thought into this topic.
Though you didn’t mention it, I imagine the reason this is front-and-center in your mind is your recent read of Made to Stick…which spends much of the book trying to explain how to get passed the curse. Like you I can’t agree more that it’s one of the best and most essential reads for everyone who writes online.
But when I have clients who are looking to get started with their web presence and want some thorough but appropriate explanation, no doubt I’ll be sending them to your e-book…congratulations!
@Jared – You are right on with that observation. This is absolutely because I read Made to Stick. I saw writing this ebook as a challenge to overcome the curse of knowledge, to write something that was as basic as I could make it while providing effective and actionable information. I hope that I have succeeded. Time (and sales) will tell!
Thanks for stopping by, it’s good to hear from you. You’ve been a busy travelin’ man!
The “Curse of Knowledge” is something the authors talk about in “Made to Stick.” Very helpful stuff.
By the way, here’s my review of Made to Stick a while back: The Best Book on Blogging isn’t about Blogging at All – A Review of Made to Stick.
@Jean – Yup. One of the best reads in a while, I’d say. Loved it, learned a ton.
It shows in ones eyes, this power to attain a Beginners Mind. I think they sparkle more.
By the way, you have a great blog!!! yeahh
There is sentence said that teaching people means you learn by yourself in the teaching progress, so while you are teaching, you’ll learn something new or sharpen your ability
There is always a gift for the people who like to share knowledge to all people. Teaching means learning
[...] that I have been a patient of “Curse of knowledge” syndrome. You can read more about it here, here . Hope my effort at writing alleviates the symptoms a little [...]