The One-Step-Back Rule for Closing Expert Knowledge Gaps
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We’re all racing to upskill right now. Whether it’s learning how to structure SKILL.md files, standing up local agents, or navigating entirely new frameworks - everyone is a beginner at something. I’m so grateful for the experts who take the time to help when I get stuck, but I’ve noticed a recurring hurdle: Expert Blindness. When you’re deep in a technical workflow, your "Step 1" is often someone else’s "Step 5." You skip the "obvious" middle steps because they’ve become invisible to you. The "One-Step-Back Rule": Before giving instructions or advice, start one level further back than you think is necessary. Expertise creates blind spots. State the obvious - it could just be the bridge your user didn't know they needed.