The Illusion of Knowing

The Illusion of Knowing

Years ago, when I was new to training and development, I had a manager skip my training session. Instead of asking when the next opportunity was, he simply said, “Give me the executive summary.” He wanted the quickest way to learn. I get that—there’s a lot of wasted time in classrooms and, efficiency matters.

But there’s also a danger in the “short answer.” Executive summaries can be helpful - if you’ve already done the work. They reinforce learning but don’t replace it. Too often, they create the illusion of knowing rather than real understanding.

This isn’t just a modern problem. In Luke 10:25-37, a man asked Jesus how to inherit eternal life. Jesus responded, “You tell me.” The man gave his version with an executive summary: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, strength, and mind - and love your neighbor as yourself.” Jesus said “Great answer, do that”

The man must have felt a little guilt and wanted to justify himself, so he asked a follow-up question: “And who is my neighbor?” That’s when real learning began. Jesus didn’t give him a shortcut—He gave him a challenge, a story to wrestle with (The Good Samaritan), and a question to consider: “Which of these three was a neighbor?” The man had a memorized phrase, an executive summary, but not an applied knowledge that fit the intended purpose of the instruction.

Research confirms what Jesus modeled - we truly learn when we engage with challenges. Knowledge isn’t just about hearing or reading; it’s about wrestling with how it applies to real situations.

So, the next time you’re tempted to settle for the executive summary, ask yourself: Do I understand this well enough to apply it? Because the real value isn’t in knowing - it’s in doing.