The “curse of knowledge” is a Cognitive Bias where we learn something and have difficulty remembering what it was like not to know it!
As an engineer, I am used to absorbing technical information and understanding complex problems. Early in my career, I used to assume that everyone could do the same thing.
It was a rude shock to learn that many people struggle to grasp technical and complex information and that we can add value by making it simple.
I got so good at explaining technical things to my clients, that trust increased and many upgrade-resistant accounts made extra purchases. My employer noticed and the sales director took me to lunch and made an irresistible offer.
I moved from engineering to account management and doubled my income.
The “Curse of Knowledge” impacts our ability to communicate, make decisions, and understand in several ways:
- Impaired Understanding: Experts often overestimate the knowledge of others, leading them to skip essential explanations or context, assuming their audience already understands complex ideas.
- Ineffective Communication: It makes it hard for people to convey information clearly because they are unaware of how unfamiliar or confusing the information might be to others.
- Poor Decision-Making: Casuses leaders or decision-makers to overlook the perspectives of team members or customers who may not share their level of expertise, leading to decisions that aren’t inclusive or optimal.
In communication, breaking down concepts and empathizing with the audience’s level of knowledge is essential to avoid this bias.
Here’s a 5-step plan to mitigate the curse of knowledge:
1. Know Your Audience
→ Before presenting or discussing, assess your audience’s knowledge level. Ask questions to gauge their understanding of the topic.
Why It Works:
→ This helps you avoid assumptions and tailor your communication to meet their needs.
2. Simplify Your Language
→ Use clear, concise language and avoid jargon or overly technical terms. Use analogies or examples to explain complex ideas.
Why It Works:
→ Simplified language ensures that everyone can follow along and grasp the key points regardless of expertise.
3. Seek Feedback Regularly
→ Pause during discussions to ask for feedback. Encourage questions like “Does this make sense?” or “Am I being clear?”
Why It Works:
→ Getting real-time feedback helps you adjust your message and catch any misunderstandings early on.
4. Use Step-by-Step Explanations
→ Break down concepts into smaller, manageable steps. Go from basic to more complex, ensuring each step is clear before moving forward.
Why It Works:
→ Step-by-step explanations allow people to build their understanding progressively, reducing confusion.
5. Reframe from the Listener’s Perspective
→ Take a moment to step into your audience’s shoes mentally. How would someone unfamiliar with the topic see this?
Why It Works:
→ Reframing forces you to see things from a beginner’s perspective, which helps you better communicate and ensure comprehension.
By using these steps, you’ll overcome the curse of knowledge and communicate more effectively across different levels of expertise.
Leadership Advocate and Co-Founder of the Goldzone Group. I help leaders to master the new rules of leadership for the new economy. Over the past 30 years, I have visited more than 500 cities in 54 countries to explore, learn from, and help many of the world’s leading companies, leaders, and luminaries in science, technology, health, finance, and entrepreneurship.