The Power To Explain

Can we consider ourselves experts if we are unable to explain in simple terms what we do and why? No, I suppose, because clarity is often what characterizes mastery.

I sometimes play this word-guessing game where you have to explain in different terms the expression written on your friend’s forehead. The better you are at finding analogies or decomposing expressions, the more points you earn. After playing a few rounds, you’ll find that some people are more talented at it than others depending on their mastery of the subject.

Being able to explain anything to anyone is an incredible power. If we consider that the concept of master is traditionally linked to the concept of student, then it is clear that mastery comes through your ability to teach your craft.

I think it basically comes down to how well you comprehend the underlying first principles of a given concept, your “students”, and how good you are at playing with analogies to explain them. After all, our reality limits our perception: explaining something to someone is expanding their perception from within, using comparisons.

It is true that our economy rewards those who can master hard concepts fast, but it is even more valuable to be someone who can teach difficult concepts fast to hundreds of people.