Knowledge is power. Knowledge is wealth. These are commonly associated statements with knowledge. But this post is about know ledge being a curse. Does that even happen? The answer is a resounding yes.
The Curse of Knowledge
When we already know something, we often assume that the person we are talking to also has the same information. We forget that what is so obvious to us may not be so obvious to the other person. In fact, they may be oblivious to it.
When we go in with the ‘curse of knowledge’ into a conversation, our communication becomes compromised and lacks clarity.
A Simple Experiment
At Stanford, a simple experiment was carried out. Volunteers were divided into two groups. One group was ‘Tappers’ and the other was ‘Listeners’. The Tappers were given a list of popular melodies like “Happy Birthday”, “jingle Bells” etc and were asked to tap it out. The listeners were asked to recognize the melody.
The Tappers were fairly confident that the listeners would be able to identify the melody. However, that was not the case. The Tappers predicted a success ratio of 50%, however, practically the success ratio was a measly 2.5%.
More details of the experiment are available here.
Why did this Happen
What could be the possible reason for this hude discrepancy between expectation and results? Well, it turned out that the Tappers, as they were aware (or had the knowledge ) of the tune, were already playing it out in their heads while tapping. The tune was obvious to them and hence they were surprised that the Listeners did not get it.
The Listeners on the other hand, ha no clue and hence found it very hard to identify the tune
The key question is does this scenario seem familiar?
How the Curse of Knowledge Impedes Us
When we already know something, we assume others know it too. This hampers the clarity in our communication. We do no explain thing as clearly as we should.
Clear communication is the building block of efficiency and effectiveness both at work and in your personal life.
For example, when we are training junior colleagues, we must remember they may not have he knowledge and experience that we have. And this underlying principle should drive our communication.
Roles of the Tappers and Listeners
At work or in your personal life, at any point, you may be a Tapper or a Listener. Here are some points you should consider for effective communication in either role
| When you are the Tapper | When you are the Listener |
| Know your audience and be aware of their level of knowledge | When you have to attend a meeting, try and gather as much information about the topic as you can beforehand. This is part of your preparation. |
| Break down your communication into simple, progressive tasks or steps that are clear and easy to implement | As you receive the information, identify the logical sequence of steps to be implemented. Any gaps in the sequence will become immediately apparent so that you ask for clarity. |
| Ask questions to ensure that you have been understood | Ask questions if things are unclear. |
As I started this post, I mentioned that knowledge is strength and power. Knowledge is also wealth. Let us make sure that knowledge remains so and does not become a curse. The onus of clear communication is more on the Tapper than on the Listener, perhaps.
What do you feel.
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