Two of the Most Powerful Words in Learning

I know.

Yep. Those are the two words. Were you expecting something more complicated?

“I know” can be a wonderful expression of discovery. Think of a child working through multiplication flash cards and proudly announcing, “I know this one!” Or that moment while watching Jeopardy! when you realize you actually know the answer.

But these same two words have another side. A dark side.

A supervisor begins offering feedback, and we think, “I know where this is going.” At a workshop, we decide, “I know what they’re going to say.” A parent offers guidance, and a child responds, “I know, I know, I know”—without any change in behavior.

In those moments, “I know” becomes a stopping point. We stop listening. We stop considering another perspective. And we may stop learning.

The challenge is that there is always something more to discover, even in areas where we have years of experience.

What if we changed our response from “I know” to “I want to understand what they know”? We might ask better questions, reconsider an assumption, or learn one small thing that makes a difference.

When you catch yourself thinking “I know,” what might happen if you listen a little longer?

Your coach’s insight…simply put.

— Rory