As leaders, we often forget what it was like to begin. The uncertainty, the fear of making mistakes, and the challenge of navigating unfamiliar ground. This is the “curse of knowledge”: once we have mastered something, it feels so obvious that we assume others must see it the same way. We underestimate how valuable our experience, insights, and guidance actually are. The danger is that we stop teaching, mentoring, or coaching because we believe what we know is “too obvious” to be worth sharing.

We have to remember that what feels simple to us may be transformative for someone else. I think great leadership means remembering the beginner’s perspective and having the humility to meet people where they are.