Why Leaders Must Speak Up: The Dunning-Kruger Trap

There’s a curious paradox that affects many great leaders: the more they know,

the less they feel they should say. This isn’t because they lack knowledge or

insight - far from it. It’s because they’re aware of just how much they don’t

know. This self-awareness, while often a hallmark of expertise, can become a

roadblock. It stops many leaders from stepping forward and sharing their

experience, even when their insights could be valuable to their audience.

This phenomenon is neatly explained by the Dunning-Kruger Effect. At its core,

the Dunning-Kruger Effect describes a cognitive bias where those with limited

knowledge overestimate their expertise, while those with deep expertise

underestimate their authority. The more someone learns about a topic, the

more they realise how much more there is to know. As a result, they

hesitate to claim expertise.

For business leaders, this can be a problem. If you’re waiting until you know

everything before you speak, you’ll never speak at all. Worse, the people who

know far less than you - those without your years of experience, real-world

problem-solving, and industry insights - are often the ones speaking the

loudest. And they are the ones being heard.

The Leadership Branding Paradox

As a leader, your expertise is one of your most valuable assets. But if you aren’t

sharing it, you’re doing your ideal clients a disservice. They don’t just need to hear

from someone with confidence; they need to hear from someone with

competence, and that’s you.

Your knowledge has value. It’s not about shouting the loudest. It’s about

showing up consistently, sharing your insights, and letting your audience see

your expertise in action. That’s how trust is built. That’s how you become a go-to

voice in your industry.

Overcoming the Dunning-Kruger Trap

So, how do you push past this barrier and start sharing your insights with

confidence?

Recognise your bias - awareness is the first step. If you ever find yourself

hesitating to share your knowledge because you feel there’s more to learn,

remind yourself: the fact that you know there’s more to learn means you’re

already ahead of most.

Shift the focus: Leadership Branding isn’t about self-promotion. It’s about

service. You’re not posting on LinkedIn or speaking at an event to boast -

you’re doing it to help others by sharing your knowledge and perspective.

Speak to the right audience: your ideal clients aren’t looking for perfection;

they’re looking for solutions. They don’t need to hear from someone who knows

everything - they need to hear from someone who knows more than they do

and can guide them in the right direction.

Start small, but start now, don't let perfectionism lead to paralysis. Instead of

waiting until you have a fully polished message, start by sharing small insights.

A LinkedIn post. A conversation at an event. A comment on an industry trend.

These micro-moments of visibility build credibility over time.

Your Voice Matters

There’s a lot of noise out there. And often, it’s not the most knowledgeable

people who are heard; instead, it’s the ones who are willing to speak. But, that doesn’t mean you need to be loud, brash, or overconfident. It simply means you need to show up. To share your knowledge.

So if you’ve been holding back or waiting until you feel like an ‘expert’, stop waiting. You already have the knowledge that your ideal clients need.

If you don’t speak - someone else - someone far less qualified - will.