Turn Learning Into Mastery by Teaching Others Publicly

Steven Bartlett once dreaded public speaking so much that he froze silent for what felt like ages on stage. Fast forward, and now he delivers keynotes beside world leaders, hosts chart-topping podcasts, and addresses stadiums. What changed wasn’t a natural charisma switch—it was the discipline of making himself teach what he wanted to learn. Bartlett set a daily challenge: produce a tweet or video about a new idea every day at 7 pm. Over years, the feedback and public commitment forced his ideas to become sharper, his explanations simpler, and his nerves steadier.

This 'obligation to teach' kickstarted mastery. It’s rooted in behavioral science: the act of teaching makes you consolidate, clarify, and truly own knowledge. Social contracts, from a promise to an audience or accountability group, add “skin in the game”—a psychological stake that motivates follow-through. And when you must explain things simply (the core of the Feynman technique), you uncover the edges of your own understanding and patch them immediately.

Instead of hiding your learning, share it. The discomfort of public teaching accelerates growth, sharpens communication, and—if you stick with it—makes you an authority worth listening to.

To build real mastery, pick something you’re actively learning and set a recurring commitment to teach it to others, even if your audience is small. Use social media, a blog, or even casual voice notes sent to a group chat; focus on breaking each idea down so clearly your explanation feels almost obvious. Don’t shy away from feedback—in fact, invite it at every step. Over the next few weeks, note how your own clarity improves, and how quickly you notice gaps in your knowledge. Keep that commitment public and consistent, and watch as your confidence, communication skills, and real expertise multiply. Start with your next lesson—even a quick text counts.