I Don’t Understand: Use Student-Thinking To Grow Your Expertise

“I don’t understand,” is possibly the most powerful statement if you want to improve your expertise, understanding and knowledge.

Follow this with a question like,”Can you explain it to me in more detail?” or “Can you say it in a different way?” In this way you are embracing student-thinking which can open so many doors.

Students are not expected to know everything. They are expected to ask good questions of their lecturers to deepen their learning.

You don’t know everything. You don’t have to know everything. No-one does. The best way to improve your expertise, understanding and knowledge is to embrace this fact and then flip into student-thinking mode.

Journalism was one of the subjects I studied for my initial qualification in Public Relations and Communications. One of the best things I learnt from this subject was that there is no such thing as a stupid question and the quality of your questions determines the quality of the copy you write. So, the skill of asking really good questions has become one of my X-factors for success.

Asking good questions is an X-factor for success

Many people are afraid to ask this question in case they look stupid. I prefer to reframe this question as being curious and ensuring that I have a good understanding of the topic and can accurately make deductions not from just what I know, but what I have discovered from the experts along the way. These experts may be my clients, or other speakers, authors or subject matter experts.

Three important student-thinking phrases to add to your repertoire:

Let’s recap because these three phrases can have such a positive impact on both your professional and personal life because they ensure you are always curious and interested in others, while never being arrogant because you acknowledge you don’t know everything:

• I don’t understand
• Can you expelain it to me in more detail?
• Can you say it in a different way?

Student-thinking is perfect for these situations

These three very useful phrases can be used in many situations including:

• When interacting with colleagues both above and below you in your organisation. It shows interest, curiosity and intentionality.
• To maximise engagement with your team members as the team leader and to take the burden of having to know all the answers off your shoulders. You have a team for a reason.
• If you are working with clients as a consultant in order to gain maximum understanding of what they do or the challenges they are facing. Ask enough that your client feels you know their organisation sufficiently to be able to add insights and value. The detailed preparation I do before working with a team astounds most of my clients. The quality of my work ‘in the room’ is based on the quality of my research beforehand.
• In your marriage or with your partner to make sure you really do understand where they are coming from. I have watched a couple with a great marriage do just this even when in the company of others. Don’t fall foul by making assumptions from your point of view because you could well be wrong no matter how long you have been in relationship with each other.
• With your children to show your interest in their perspective on things. The more you ask and listen, the more they will share with you throughout their lives. As parents, remember that you have two ears and one mouth; you should listen twice as much as you speak.

Always be curious

If you want to be a life-long learner, always be curious. You don’t know what you don’t know is my favourite saying. And, all your growth lies beyond your comfort zone, in what you don’t know.

Remember this:

• You don’t have to know everything or have all the answers.
• When you ask questions make sure you understand the information and answers you get, and keep drilling down until you do.
• Can you teach or apply what you have discovered? It’s a good test of your understanding. This is how true learning occurs. When you can apply this learning to another situation you show expertise.
• That’s how a small kernel of information can turn into a body of work.

Applying student-thinking to something small can lead to the creation of a meaningful body of work that can impact the world.

How intentionally curious are you being? Perhaps you should add, “I don’t understand,” to your conversations more regularly.

If you want to book a session with me to ask you some probing, challenging questions to give you clarity and insight to win at work and life, drop an email to info@nikkibush.com.

Have an empowered week.