One Apple A Day #841 - Explaining
If you have the strength of explaining, you are the one everybody run to when they want to understand something.
I just check on the dictionary, and the word "explain" derives from the Latin from Latin explanare which literal meaning is "to make level, to flatten or spread."
So, that's what people who are excellent in explaining do. Reality is more often than not like a wrinkled and curled map, definitely hard to read. To explain things, it means to flatten the map out, so more people can read it. There are many ways to do that, from storytelling to the use of metaphors, from visuals to examples. In fact, while I was reflecting on this strength, I realised that sure, you must be smart to be good at explaining stuff.
But that's only half of the story.
Because you can have everything clear in your mind, but that doesn't mean that you'll be able to instil the same clarity in others.
To do so, you need to listen to your audience so you can learn their maps, models, beliefs, symbols and language. Only then, you'll be able to translate the clarity you have in your mind, into something that will help others read the reality.
And never forget that a map is never the territory.