Why it matters
The curse of knowledge means leaders consistently overestimate how clearly their priorities have landed. A quick “echo” reveals the gap between what you said and what was heard.
How to run it
- Ask casually: “If someone asked you what our number-one priority is right now, what would you say?”
- Listen without correcting.
- Compare with what you believe you communicated.
- Change your message, not their understanding — then echo again next month.
Watch out for
- Treating a mismatch as the employee’s failure — it’s a communication signal