I was recently asked by an alumni director at a major university for an article about networking. She wanted a Networking 101 for new grads. In her words, “We’re talking basics—like what do you say when you get someone on the phone.” Oh, my. I don’t even think about what to say. It just comes out. She also relayed to me a comment from a new grad, asking whether she should “concentrate on work ethic or focus on networking.” Huh? Clearly there’s a misperception of what networking is, that it could be a replacement for a strong work ethic.

My mind could go in many directions from this place. But it landed on something I was noticing with my husband. This is his first year as a high school baseball coach. After playing baseball for nearly 30 years in adult leagues, he knows a lot about the sport-what an ideal left fielder looks like, how to match a slow infield with the players you have, what you should look for in catcher’s gear. He had forgotten how much he knows about baseball until he started teaching some of the less experienced players the basics—how to bunt, the importance of wearing a “cup”, and where to position yourself as a catcher so you don’t get whacked in the head.

What’s my point? It’s easy to forget what we know. We have become “unconsciously competent,” not realizing that what we take for granted and don’t even think about, others are struggling to learn. According to one model, there are four stages of learning:

1. Unconscious incompetence. We don’t know what we don’t know. Sort of like
   ignorance is bliss.
2. Conscious incompetence. We know what we don’t know and it’s painful. My son was like this when he took his first (and so far only) snowboarding lesson. Falling down all day is no fun.
3. Conscious competence. We know what we know. My son is consciously competent at skiing. He can go down the green runs and has to concentrate to get down the blue runs.
4. Unconscious competence. We have forgotten what we know. We execute without thinking. This is the kid who has been riding a bike for years and the toddler who can walk. Often, this is when we are “in the flow.” It’s me when I’m having a great coaching day.

Here’s the point I really want to make. I’m willing to bet that all adults are unconsciously competent at something and that something is valuable to someone else—like what you know about being in the business world or playing a sport that you’ve participated in all your life.

Share your knowledge—the stuff you forgot you knew. It’s fun, it’s easy, and it will make you feel good.