Creating an Illustrated Brainstorming Book
Communication is a huge topic.
And rightly so. It's something we all do in both our personal and professional lives yet we often take it for granted. But many successes in life often come down to how well we communicate.
THE INSPO
I love the concept of the Curse of Knowledge. It's a well-known concept in psychology and can be seen everywhere.
It states that once you know something really well, it can be difficult to remember what it was like not to have that knowledge. As a result, you forget how it looks from a beginner's perspective. This blind spot can lead to problems getting your message across or helping solve complex problems.
If people don't understand, they won't care.
A teacher with decades of experience may not realize how hard the concepts can be for students who have no prior knowledge and might come across as patronizing instead of helpful.
If an engineer builds a complex software program but can't explain it in simple terms, it's unlikely that his intended users will be interested or motivated to use it.
If you don't explain the benefits of recycling, people likely won't take the time to do it.
The first step to beating the Curse of Knowledge is to acknowledge that it's a real thing. Next, strategies like breaking a complex subject into small parts, telling stories, and speaking in plain language can help bridge the gap between experts and non-experts.
CREATING A GUIDED BRAINSTORMING WORKBOOK:
I created a brainstorming workbook showing this in detail. It's filled with real-world examples, brainstorming exercises, and fun visuals. It's also inspired by my favorite book Made to Stick by brothers Chip and Dan Heath.
