If you really want to learn something, teach it.

A 2014 study from Washington University found that students who believed they were going to teach what they were learning understood it more deeply than those who thought they’d just be tested on it.

The shift? It’s not just about memorising answers—it’s about organising knowledge, connecting dots, and anticipating questions.

This is a powerful mindset shift.

Instead of passively absorbing information, you engage with it like a problem solver.

You ask, “How would I explain this to someone else?” That question flips a switch in our brains that hyper focuses our ability to learn.

In teams, it’s the same. Want your people to retain more, contribute more, grow faster? Encourage them to share what they’re learning. The breakthroughs and the struggles.

Give them the mic regularly.

Teaching isn’t just a skill. It’s a learning strategy.

Don’t just study something. Don’t just skim it. Learn it as if you’ll teach it.

It's the fastest path to mastering something new.