Do you know what you know?

The Assistant Principal Podcast is almost ready! I’m just waiting on Apple. The first episode focuses on the six dimensions of organizations and on the four principles of leverage. Later this afternoon I’ll be doing two interviews with guests for episodes 2 and 3. I’ll tease those in Friday’s email. I think that’s what you are supposed to do in marketing =;^} 

Colleagues,

My former superintendent, mentor, and friend Dr. Jan Osborn used to tell me “You don’t know what you don’tknow.” 
 
That’s true, but sometimes, you don’t know what you do know.
 
What???
 
Yesterday I was working with a group of assistant principals on doing teacher observations. Planning the session had been difficult for me. I have had the good fortune to have had in-depth and rigorous training in multiple forms of observation. Many things I have just internalized and do automatically.
 
When we develop a high level of knowledge and skill in a specific area, sharing with others can be difficult. It is easy to forget how much we know. The things that we think are simple and easy may be very challenging for people who haven’t had the training or experiences.
 
Next time you are trying to explain, teach, or coach someone, and their eyes start to glaze over, stop, and ask yourself: Do I know what I know?
 
You may need to backup and slow down. That’s not a reflection on how little the person you are working with knows, it is a reflection on how much you do know. So take a deep breath, rejoice, and start again.
 
Cheers!
 
Frederick