Pro Work Tip 10: Stop Saying “I Know”, When Someone Is Explaining Something To You
There’s a small phrase that quietly damages more conversations than people realize: “I know.”
It seems harmless. Someone is explaining something to you, maybe something you’re already familiar with, and you say “I know” to let them know they don’t need to keep going. But that’s not how it lands. To the other person, “I know” doesn’t sound efficient. It sounds like a wall going up. It says: stop, you’re wasting your breath, I’m already ahead of you here.
Why “I Know” Backfires
Explaining something to someone is a small act of generosity. The person is taking time to share knowledge, context, or a warning, often because they care about the outcome or about you. When you cut that off with “I know,” you’re not just saving time, you’re rejecting the gesture. Even if you really do already know, the other person hears dismissal, not efficiency. It can make you seem closed off, defensive, or like you think you’re above being told anything.
Over time, this adds up. People stop offering you information. They stop double-checking things with you. They stop coaching you, because coaching someone who always says “I know” feels pointless and even a little humiliating for the coach.
The Fix: “You’re Right”
Instead of “I know,” try “You’re right.”
It sounds almost too simple, but the effect is real. “You’re right” does something “I know” never does it makes the other person feel heard and validated instead of shut down. You’re not pretending to be ignorant, and you’re not lying. You’re simply acknowledging that what they said is true and worth saying, without turning it into a contest over who knew it first.
The shift is subtle but the impact on the relationship is not. People consistently respond better to “you’re right” than to “I know.” They feel like the conversation was worth having. They walk away feeling like you’re approachable, someone open to being told things, someone coachable, rather than someone who has to prove they already knew everything.
Why This Matters More Than It Seems
This isn’t about being fake or agreeable for its own sake. It’s about recognizing what a conversation is actually for. Most of the time, when someone explains something you already know, they’re not testing you, they’re trying to help, protect you from a mistake, or simply be thorough. Responding with “I know” treats the interaction as an information exchange to be minimized. Responding with “you’re right” treats it as what it actually is: a moment of connection.
Small phrases shape how people experience you over time. “I know” makes you sound closed. “You’re right” makes you sound coachable, humble, and easy to talk to and that reputation is worth far more than winning the small, invisible contest of who already knew what.