Mastering Skills

“To teach is to learn twice.” — Joseph Joubert

If you break down behaviors, results, and the thing you are trying to achieve, you may realize that while you’re good at doing the thing, you might not be as skilled at teaching it. For example, can a charismatic person explain what makes them charismatic? Can they tell you how to be charismatic? To teach effectively, one must clearly articulate the inputs that result in being seen as charismatic.

The same goes for leadership. It’s not enough to say, “You need to be a better leader.” You must be able to deconstruct leadership, breaking it down into specific traits that make a good leader, and then further into the specific behaviors that embody those traits. Keep deconstructing this concept all the way down, and then learn to reconstruct it in a way that others can understand.

To teach and improve, you need to broaden your vocabulary and understanding. This could be a limiting factor in your ability to pass on knowledge. When you can do this effectively, not only will you master the skill yourself, but you’ll also be able to teach others how to do the same.