I was on a call with a colleague yesterday that I consider to be a great mentor to me and as the call was wrapping up, I thanked them for their mentorship and what I actually said, without putting too much thought in to it, is:

You’re the ideal kind of mentor and leader. You share your wealth of knowledge abundantly without ever making me feel inferior.

As I hung up the phone I realized how truly valuable that attribute is in a leader. Experienced leaders have so much information, experience and expertise to share but if they do it in a way that is condescending or makes people feel inferior, the lessons can easily get lost.

Next time you’re sharing your knowledge, pay careful attention to the “how” to ensure you maximize the message.