Rule #5: Share the Knowledge. Don’t Be the Bottleneck.

We’ve all heard the saying: “Knowledge is power.” But here’s the twist—real leadership isn’t about hoarding that power. It’s about sharing it.

Unfortunately, too many leaders let fear—fear of losing control, fear of being outshined, fear of making mistakes—get the best of them. The result? They hoard information like it’s gold.

Let’s be clear:
That. Strategy. Backfires. Every time.

Here’s why:

• You become the bottleneck.
  And anyone with a basic business background knows—bottlenecks kill momentum and progress.

• It frustrates your team.
  Saying “I’m too busy to communicate” is not a badge of honor. It’s a red flag. Communication isn’t extra—it’s essential.

• It erodes trust.
  Your team is responsible for executing your vision. If you’re not sharing with them, what message are you sending?

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The Usual Excuses (And Why They’re Weak)

Cue the naysayers—they usually raise two objections:

1. “I don’t have time to share everything I learn.”

Let’s be real.
You probably aren’t as organized as you think you are. (Don’t worry—we all have room for improvement.)

Instead of treating communication like a chore, build it into your day. Here’s a simple method:

• First 30 minutes: Reflect on your leadership goals.

• Next 30 minutes: Share what you’ve learned—an insight, a summary, a lesson.

You’ll be surprised how manageable it becomes. Most days don’t bring brand-new revolutions—they bring recycled versions of yesterday’s challenges. Share early, share often, and you’ll never feel overwhelmed.

Steven Covey fans: this is a classic shift from Quadrant 1 (urgent) to Quadrant 2 (important).
This is how leaders move from chaos to clarity.

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2. “Most of what I know is confidential.”

Really? Are you that important?

Here’s a gut check:
Think back to the last six months. Remember the “top secret” stuff you kept close to your chest?

• How long before it leaked anyway?

• Did the world end when it did?

• Wouldn’t it have been smoother if you’d just shared it with your team—early and openly?

Unless it’s a personnel issue or explicitly confidential, share it.

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The Leadership Multiplier Effect

Rule #5: If it’s not private or prohibited, pass it on.

Now here’s the magic:

Corollary 5.1: The more you share with your team, the more they’ll share with you.

Information flow is a two-way street. When your team knows you trust them, they’ll return the favor—with ideas, feedback, intel, and loyalty.

That’s when real leadership begins to take off.

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ACTION ITEM #5

Next time you’re in a leadership or strategy meeting (even if it feels exclusive), do this:

• Write a short summary—just bullet points is fine.

• Send it to your team.

• Ask: “Was this useful to you?”

Simple. Powerful. Game-changing.