Why my goldfish memory makes me a better Agile Coach

I’m dyslexic. I forget complex stuff almost as fast as I hear it. And I’ve never been one for theory-heavy frameworks.

But weirdly – that’s probably why I’m a better coach.

When I explain something, it has to be simple. Not because I’m dumbing it down, but because I literally can’t hold onto unnecessary complexity. If I can’t explain it clearly, I can’t explain it at all.

There’s a phrase I love: the curse of knowledge. It’s what happens when you know something so well, you forget what it’s like not to know it. You start skipping steps, using jargon, and confusing the very people you’re trying to help.

I saw it just this week – coaches struggling to explain really good ideas, but the message just wasn’t landing. Not because they were wrong – because they were too deep in it.

I’ve worked with some seriously clever people who’ve fallen into this trap. One of them – an absolute genius – once described me as “an expert by doing, not by theory.” At the time I wasn’t sure if it was a compliment or a dig. Turns out, it’s probably the best feedback I’ve ever had.

I lean on simple phrases like:

• Start with the end in mind

• Start finishing, stop starting

• Deliberate beats clever

Not because they sound nice – but because they help people move.

So here’s a thought: next time you’re struggling to explain something, try this…

Could you explain it to someone brand new? Could you explain it to yourself on a bad brain day?

If not, you’re not dumbing it down. You’re just not done yet.