I bet Adam and Eve never saw this phrase coming thousands of years after that dang apple.
“What in God’s name is she talking about?” you might ask. Well,Ā it’s the golden piece of advice for any writer OR business owner trying get a message to the public.
What is the Curse of Knowledge?
You cannot summarize the curse of knowledge in one sentence. It’s an idea, an understanding.
Think of this: Have you ever listened to a doctor describe a diagnosis, and every term they used scrambled your brains? Or perhaps, a lawyer’s “jargon talk”confused your understanding of a topic even more.Ā Ā
This doctor, or lawyer, was so engrossed in his or her field of specialty, that upon talking to YOU–an outsider–he or she FORGOT how much they know. Consequently, you did not understand or fully absorb their message or information.
This is the curse of knowledge. And every professional deals with it.
Break the curse!
Journalists know about the dreaded curse. They are some of the foremost experts in taking something complicated, and breaking it down. The result? The average reader can absorb the information.
How can you learn this skill?
First and foremost, self-awareness is key. If you know the curse exists, try to identify when it reveals itself. Here are some other techniques you can use to break the curse:
1) Ask yourself, “Could a 5th-grader understand what I’m trying to explain?” If not, go back and simplify. (Hint: Layman’s terms)
2) Ask a colleague or acquaintance OUTSIDE your field of specialty to review your article, or blog, or video, etc. Then,Ā ask what message they took away. If it’s not what you wanted to convey, you know the curse struck.
3) Your communications are littered with jargon. This is very typical in business or corporate writing. If you’re writing for your executives, then fine. However, if you’re writing to encourage the average person to take action (whether it’s to buy something or donate their time), this type of communication will turn people away.
So tell me,Ā have youĀ been struck with the curse of knowledge? And how did you overcome it?
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