Why Knowledge Isn’t Enough (And What Is)
Every good communicator passes on a valuable treasure to their listeners… knowledge! However, knowledge is not the most desirable thing a good communicator offers. One of my favorite quotes comes from the Apostle Paul in the book of 1 Corinthians, in which he says,
“We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.”
The most powerful communicators I have ever gleaned from not only shared a deep well of knowledge, but they shared it in love. They weren’t trying to draw attention to themselves and their intelligence. As they talked, they displayed a genuine love for their audience and a desire to empower listeners to improve their lives.
I encountered this when I attended a “Switch on Your Brain” conference by Dr. Caroline Leaf. Dr. Leaf is one of the best communicators I’ve ever heard. Sure, she talks really fast, has a South African accent, and uses big terms that only a neuroscientist would understand. But as she spoke, I found myself hanging onto every word she said - and by the looks of the audience around me - they were too. She had such a passion for what she was communicating. She knew that if everyone in the room could catch hold of the knowledge of how our brains work, we could rewire ourselves away from anxiety and toxic thought patterns. I felt she really wanted us to find that freedom, because she cared for us. Since then, I’ve read several of her books, listen to her podcast, and have downloaded her app. I can’t get enough.
In his book, Storybrand, Donald Miller challenges businesses to position themselves as a guide in a story, while the customer is the hero. He then describes the guide as having both empathy and authority (that comes from knowledge and experience). A friend of mine, Holly Moore, who is a very successful international consultant said she thinks of empathy as the coffee and authority as the cream. You can help people far more if you’re heavier on the empathy than authority. (If you’re like my mother who has a little coffee with her cream then you’ll have to swap the analogy!)
I think that advice translates well to communicators also. If we spent less time crafting a perfect presentation/argument/lesson/etc, and more time learning about our listeners, contemplating their struggles, and imagining their lives improved because of the knowledge we offer, we will deliver a far more valuable treasure.
If you’re like me, and want to communicate with empathy, try doing some of these:
Listen first. Take time to really understand the people in your world.
Share only what’s helpful. People don’t need to know everything you know, only share what could help them in that moment based on what you learn about them.
Be vulnerable. When people know you struggle as well, they are more likely to believe you care.
Are you struggling to share your knowledge with others? Check out my previous blog post, A Valuable Gift You’re Not Giving, to see tips on how to develop the skill of communicating what you know.
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