L. Bart Adams

The Curse of Knowledge is a communication problem when someone has vast experience and knowledge on a particular subject. They unknowingly assume everyone around them understands what they are referencing.  They expect people to read their minds because the subject matter and ideas are so obvious to them.

This curse is most evident in the workplace with new hires. It is easy for their immediate supervisors (often with years of experience) to overlook “simple” concepts during the training process.

Years ago, while conducting an orientation with a new front-line employee in our conference room, I offered the employee a cup of coffee, to which he obliged. The next day during his morning break, he came to the meeting room and got a cup of coffee, and sat down at the conference table with the entire management team. This room is where the management team met each morning for their morning break to discuss any issues related to the farm. After a short awkward silence and some confused glances from the managers, I had to politely escort him out of the room and direct him to the relevant break area. It was my fault. The “Curse of Knowledge” had set in, as I had assumed he would find the break room. Up to this point, it was not part of our orientation to show new hires the break area. I promptly added this to our orientation procedure.

How do you break the curse?

In a boiling cauldron, add two frog eyes, a tongue of a newt, and wild boar urine. In the previous example, there was confusion on such a simple issue. Imagine the most severe consequences that could occur if you cannot break the curse—for instance, overlooking a critical safety measure that could lead to an injury. Here are a few ideas that I have used or encouraged with my team to help with breaking the curse.

1. Over-communication – You can never get into trouble with over-communicating. There is a paradox to over-communicating; because you are so familiar with the subject, it feels like you are over-communicating, while the recipient is simply getting “new” information.
2. Checklists – Using a list is a great way to make sure you train on all relevant topics and that no stone gets left unturned. I recently read an excellent book about this concept, The Checklist Manifesto. I highly recommend reading this for more ideas.
3. Repetition – Repeat training programs at least annually or more frequently, depending on the nature of the work. For example, during a monthly safety meeting to review significant safety concerns, it may be a good time to refresh your employees on an HR policy. This process helps increase understanding and clarifies policies and procedures with staff.

Each of these ideas is a tool for more efficient communication.  A corollary that applies to each of these tools is to answer the “why” for those you are communicating with, even if they don’t ask.  Answering the “why” gives clarity and purpose to the knowledge you’re trying to convey. As a leader, I’ve learned that I must consistently and continuously improve my communication skills, but I assumed you already knew that?!

Have you ever walked into a room full of strangers, took one look, and had the desire to turn around and walk out?  I recently had the opportunity to attend an open house for a marketing association through which the mushroom farm belongs. The purpose of the meeting was to learn about the organization’s plan for the coming year and make business connections with other members, otherwise known as networking. I didn’t see a soul, and I could feel my introvert-induced anxiety, and I approached a vendor table to break the ice. We spoke briefly about their offering and quickly discovered no mutually beneficial relationship, and I left to “work the crowd.” As I walked around, I looked around, hoping to make eye contact that could help me break into a conversation, but I had no success. It seemed that everyone there knew each other, and as they fraternized, there was no room for this outsider. This tale does not have a happy ending. I made my way to the food table, grabbed a quick appetizer and a drink, and left the open-house in earnest.

As I have reflected on this experience, I have felt inadequate and disappointed in my ability to follow through on my purpose for the meeting, which was to network and make meaningful business connections that could improve my business.

If you’re an introvert like me, networking can be a pretty intimidating proposition.  It has never been easy for me, particularly in a group setting, to form meaningful connections in hopes of building a relationship quickly.  Whether it be a personal or business relationship, it is the same.

What Did I Learn?

I build my network in small groups or one-on-one.  As I look at my network, I can pinpoint almost 90% of them I met through a referral or introduction in a small group, 3-4 people. I’ve also learned that I do have a network just because I don’t have success networking in large crowds—an essential and robust network.  I have realized that I have built a network that has provided many opportunities both professionally and personally over time.  My network has also been one that I have been able to contribute my ideas and talents.

As human animals, I tend to box up our networks into the different categories in our lives, i.e., personal, religious, work-related, etc. However, I submit to the idea that we’re living a whole life, and there are no such clearly defined distinctions in our networks.  Particularly in small towns. My dear friend who also lives in Fillmore, Utah, has said on many occasions, “In small towns, there are many opportunities to step on each other’s toes.” We can interact with our network on many levels and in various settings, and that’s okay.

Value of Your Network

I didn’t think I’ve understood the value of my network until I purchased the mushroom farm. (In fact, I had to dig deep in my network to buy the farm.)  I had owned several businesses before, and as I reflect on those experiences, any success or failure in those ventures directly resulted from my network. Here are some examples of how my network has helped me in life:

• I recently finished the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Business class at Salt Lake Community College.  This class was a 14-week business course about growing my business, almost an MBA on steroids. I learned about this through a member of Strategic Coach, a business coaching program I was involved with for three years.
• To purchase the farm, I went to 13 banks and ultimately worked with Rock Canyon Bank, whose president was from Fillmore and had a long history with my family and the farm. (Looking back, I should have gone to him first!)
• When I needed a corporate attorney to handle the transaction of purchasing the mushroom farm, I mentioned it casually to Mountain View’s health insurance broker over lunch, who referred me to his son-in-law, Paul Jones.  It was a great fit, and he helped me secure the deal.
• I am a member of a Vistage group in Salt Lake City.  I was able to renegotiate pricing on our boxes used to package our mushrooms after a discussion of scrap prices from a group member.
• Our box broker recommended a car dealership in Spanish Fork when I told him my family was looking for a van for my growing family. That was in 2005, and we are still using that van. Incidentally, I just met with the dealership again last week about purchasing another vehicle.

These are just a few examples of how my network has immense value in my business and personal life.