How Teaching Makes You Smarter: The Science Behind Knowledge Sharing
The Fastest Way to Master a Skill? Teach It.
You’ve probably heard the saying, “If you want to truly understand something, teach it.” But have you ever wondered why?
The truth is, teaching isn’t just about helping others—it’s one of the most effective ways to solidify your own knowledge.
Research backs this up. A study from the University of California found that when people were asked to teach a subject to someone else, they retained nearly 90% of the information—compared to just 30% when they learned it for themselves.
This is the foundation of the S-Shaped Mindset—where employees don’t just learn; they teach, share, and multiply knowledge, creating a ripple effect of growth and innovation.
Why Teaching Reinforces Learning
Think about the last time you had to explain a complex topic to someone. Did you find yourself:
Organizing your thoughts more clearly?
Identifying gaps in your own understanding?
Discovering new insights as you explained it?
That’s because teaching forces your brain to work harder. When you know you’ll have to explain something, you process the information differently—more deeply and more actively.
Psychologists call this The Protégé Effect, and it’s been proven to:
Boost memory retention
Improve critical thinking skills
Increase confidence and leadership potential
Make learning more engaging and rewarding
But here’s the problem: Most workplaces don’t encourage employees to teach.
Instead, knowledge is hoarded, locked away in the heads of a few key people, creating bottlenecks and inefficiencies.
If companies want to future-proof their teams, they need to shift from “knowledge holders” to “knowledge multipliers.”
The 3 Levels of Knowledge Retention
Passive Learning (Low Retention)
Reading a document, watching a webinar, or attending a training session. The information goes in, but most of it is forgotten within a week.
Active Learning (Moderate Retention)
Taking notes, discussing concepts with peers, or applying what you’ve learned in real-world scenarios. Better retention, but still room for improvement.
Teaching & Sharing (High Retention)
Explaining the concept to someone else. When you teach, you’re forced to simplify, clarify, and structure your thoughts—which leads to mastery.
Lesson: If you want your team to truly master a skill, don’t just train them—have them teach it.
How to Create a Culture of Teaching & Learning
Implement a “Learn & Teach” Policy
For every new skill an employee acquires, they should be responsible for teaching at least one other person.
How? Host weekly knowledge-sharing sessions where employees present what they’ve recently learned.
Start a “Teach It Forward” Challenge
Encourage employees to document their expertise through short videos, quick tutorials, or written guides.
How? Introduce a “Record & Share” Day, where employees spend 10 minutes creating a simple how-to guide on something they know.
Pair Experts with Learners (Co-Pilot Model)
Instead of one person hoarding knowledge, create co-piloting teams where experts train others through mentorship.
How? Rotate co-pilot roles every quarter to prevent bottlenecks and ensure knowledge is always circulating.
Create a Digital “Ask Me Anything” (AMA) Forum
Make it easy for employees to ask questions—and for others to answer.
How? Set up a Slack channel, Teams group, or internal forum where people can share answers in real-time.
Recognize & Reward Knowledge Sharing
Teaching takes effort—so reward those who do it.
How? Give shoutouts, bonuses, or career growth opportunities to employees who actively share knowledge and mentor others.
The Future of Work Belongs to Knowledge Multipliers
Companies that build a teaching culture don’t just grow faster—they grow smarter.
Instead of relying on a few experts, they create a self-sustaining cycle of continuous learning—where every employee is both a student and a teacher.
This is the essence of the S-Shaped Mindset—where knowledge isn’t just held, it’s shared, amplified, and multiplied.
