Have you seen these memes going around that start with “I was today years old when I learned……” some obvious fact I’ve been oblivious to all this time? Some of them are pretty funny, and I’ve actually caught myself saying, “I honestly didn’t know that.”
There are two deeper communication principles at work here that make these memes funny, disarming, and somewhat educational, without making us feel like total idiots:
- The easy entry of “I just learned…”
- A realization, worth sharing, with a touch of self-deprecation
On a greater scale, no one likes a “know-it-all”. If these memes came from the perspective of “let me impart what I know that you didn’t,” they wouldn’t be as well-received as this trend seems to be.
Ultimately, this is one example of why it’s challenging to work with and learn from a know-it-all. They may have great things to share that you could actually learn from, but the delivery and presentation are off the mark.
But don’t despair if you happen to know a lot and want to impart what you know and have learned to others! You may just need to repackage yourself a bit.
Instead of being a “know-it-all”, try being a “learn-it-all” and share accordingly.
Be disarming and even a little self-deprecating with entry phrases like:
- I just watched this great video on….. I learned…..
- I just read this book, article, or paper on….. I learned….if you’re interested, I’ll send it to you.
- I just had this conversation with someone else, and I learned…. (I use this one a lot; it’s true!)
- I just screwed this one up….I learned……
When you show up as someone who has learned something you’re willing to share, you automatically present as someone open, curious, somewhat fallible, and ever-learning.
People are more willing to engage with a learn-it-all than a know-it-all, and the benefit is you’re the same awesome person, just displaying a different “meme” of yourself.
