By Candice Thompson, Senior Communications Consultant

Every week, I sit with leaders who are exposed to powerful ideas — in coaching sessions, strategy conversations, and development programs. And almost every week, I watch the same pattern unfold.

A concept lands. A tool resonates. A strategy clicks.

And then the leader says something like: “I already know this.” “I’ve heard this before.” “This isn’t new.”

And they’re right, most leadership truths aren’t new. But that’s not the point.

The real question isn’t whether you already know it. The real question is: Does your team?

And are you modeling it consistently enough that they can follow your lead?

Why Self-Awareness Matters More Than Familiarity

When you’ve been leading for a long time, it’s easy to assume that what feels obvious to you is obvious to everyone else. But leadership development isn’t about novelty, it’s about application, alignment, and shared language.

That requires self-awareness.

• Self-awareness about what you’re practicing
• Self-awareness about what your team is experiencing
• Self-awareness about the gap between what you “know” and what you consistently model

The Leadership Blind Spot: “Old Hat” Thinking

When leaders dismiss a tool or concept because it feels familiar, they unintentionally create a blind spot.

You may have mastered it. Your team may not have.

You may be fluent in the language of accountability, feedback, trust-building, or communication. Your team may still be learning the alphabet.

And if you don’t slow down long enough to notice, you end up with a team that’s misaligned, inconsistent, and unsure of what “good” looks like.

That’s not a knowledge problem. That’s a leadership problem.

Here’s what this looks like in practice:

• Share what you’re learning in real time. Not as a lecture, but as an invitation: “Here’s something that challenged me this week. Let’s explore it together.”

• Normalize the idea that leaders are learners. Show your team that growth isn’t remedial, it’s cultural.

• Encourage your team to practice learning development tools with you – not as a mandate, but as a partnership.

Leadership Isn’t About Being the Expert — It’s About Being the Example

Your team doesn’t need you to be the smartest person in the room. They need you to be the most self-aware.

They need you to recognize that when something feels “basic” to you, it might be transformative for them.

They need you to slow down long enough to bring them along.

The Baa-ttom Line: If you’re exposed to a new leadership idea and your first instinct is, “I already know this,” pause…

Ask yourself:

• Am I modeling this consistently?
• Does my team understand it the way I do?
• Have I created opportunity for them to practice it?
• Have I reinforced it enough, so that it shows up in our culture?

Leadership isn’t just measured by what you know. It’s measured by what your team becomes capable of because of you.

Ready to guide your organization to greener pastures?

Contact Black Sheep Global Consulting today to discover how our expert leadership development training can help your team thrive and stand out in today’s competitive market.