The Power of Sharing Knowledge

2025-07-24

Why Sharing Matters?

The best thing one person can do for another is help them know more.

It is impossible for a person to learn what they think they already know. This ancient wisdom highlights a fundamental truth about growth: it requires humility and openness. In the world of software development, knowledge sharing isn't just a "nice to have"—it is the fuel for team empowerment and the safety net for your projects.

If one specialist in a company knows something, others should know it too. This transfer doesn't happen by magic; it requires procedures, culture, and intent.

The Mindset: Beginner's Mind & Infinite Learners

To share knowledge effectively, we first need the right mindset.

Beginner’s Mind (Shoshin)

If you are convinced you have the answer, it is impossible to learn something new. Approaching problems with a "Beginner's Mind" is crucial, and ironically, it becomes harder the more experienced you get.

Think about learning to ride a bike. At first, there is excitement, fear, and hyper-awareness. Later, it becomes automatic and boring. We need to fight that boredom. Whether you are washing dishes or writing code, try to look at the process with fresh eyes. Find the satisfaction in the details.

The Infinite Learner

An infinite learner is someone who learns from mistakes—both their own and others'. You cannot avoid making mistakes, but you can choose to remain curious about them. Ask "Why?" relentlessly.

Why Sharing Matters: The "Bus Factor"

Why should we invest time in sharing?

  1. The Bus Factor: If only one person knows how a critical module works and they go on vacation (or get hit by a bus), the project stalls. This "siloing" of knowledge is a massive risk.
  2. Code Review Quality: You cannot effectively review code if you don't understand the domain or the context. Sharing knowledge ensures reviewers understand what they are looking at.
  3. Distributed Systems: In modern architecture, systems are distributed. Our knowledge shouldn't be centralized in one person's head.

Practical Ways to Share Knowledge

"Fake it till you make it" applies here. The best way to gain practical knowledge is by doing it and then teaching it.

1. The Daily Standup (Done Right)

Many teams let the Daily Scrum devolve into a status report for management.

  • Bad: "Yesterday I did X, today I will do Y." (Boring, backward-looking).
  • Good: "Today I am planning to solve Z. I might need help with..." (Forward-looking, planning).

The 15-minute rule: The standup is for planning the next 24 hours. No one cares what you did yesterday unless it affects today. Try this trick: Start your update with what you are doing TODAY. It forces the meeting to be about synchronization, not reporting.

2. Pair and Mob Programming

  • Pair Programming: It’s not just two people at one screen. It’s a driver and a navigator. The navigator reviews code in real-time and guides the direction.
  • Mob Programming: "All the brilliant minds working together on the same thing, at the same time, in the same space."
  • It provides continuous code and design review.
  • It eliminates knowledge silos instantly.
  • It results in higher quality and less stress.

3. Documentation & "The Book"

Documentation is the asynchronous way to share knowledge.

  • READMEs: Essential for onboarding. How do I run this app?
  • Internal Wiki (The Knowledge Book): Create a central repository (like Notion) for domain knowledge. Not just HR procedures, but deep dives into how things work.
  • Video: Record meetings and demos. If someone misses a "Show & Tell," they can watch the recording.

4. Onboarding

How we welcome new people defines their future growth.

  • Don't flood them with information.
  • Assign a "Buddy" or Mentor.
  • Use checklists.
  • Encourage them to read tests to understand business logic.

The Feynman Technique: Learn by Teaching

You often realize you don't understand a concept until you try to explain it to someone else.

"If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough."

To truly master a topic, use the Feynman Technique:

  1. Study: Read the book, watch the course.
  2. Teach: Pretend you are teaching it to a student.
  3. Identify Gaps: When you get stuck explaining, go back to the source material.
  4. Simplify: Can you explain it to an 8-year-old? Avoid jargon. Complexity is often a mask for a lack of understanding.

Overcoming Barriers

Why don't we share?

  • "I'm not an expert yet."
  • "Everyone probably knows this already."
  • "I'm afraid of looking stupid."

You do not need to be a senior engineer to share knowledge. Sometimes, a junior developer explaining how they solved a specific problem is more valuable than a senior developer explaining high-level architecture, because the junior's struggle is fresh and relatable.

Build a culture where asking questions is safe, and sharing answers is celebrated.