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I Know That, Dad...

by LeRon Williams 2/18/2025


If you ask my mom, she’ll tell you I had all the answers, all the time.


My favorite response to her?


"I know that, Mom."


Recently, I found myself in a familiar back-and-forth, only this time, I was on the receiving end. The debate? How to tie a shoe.


My six-year-old son, Adam, was in a rush to get to practice.


Adam: "Dad, I know how to tie my shoes! I'm going to be late for warm-ups!"


Me: "Well, then tie them."


Adam: (Hastily loops the laces together, barely tying a knot, then jumps up to run off.)


Me: "Nu-uh! Come here and take your time to do it right."


Adam: (Scoffs.) "Daaad! I'm about to miss warm-ups!"


Ironically, my son handed me a full-circle moment. At just six years old, his favorite phrase is—yep, you guessed it—"I know that, Dad."


I could’ve been frustrated, but instead, I had to laugh. Why was it so hard for him to just take the advice? And then it hit me.


I was looking at a younger version of myself.


The Desire to Lead Without Being Led


I’ve always wanted to lead. But if I’m being honest, I hated being led. I wanted people to believe I had already done the work, that I was ready to step up, that I had it all figured out.


But leadership doesn’t work like that.


And neither does learning.


Adam was so focused on not being late for warm-ups that he was willing to ignore solid advice—even at the risk of his shoes coming undone mid-practice. He would rather struggle and push through than slow down, listen, and get it right.


Sound familiar?


The Science Behind the Struggle


Psychologists call this the illusion of competence, the belief that we understand something fully when, in reality... we don’t. Studies show that when people assume they already "know" something, they close themselves off from deeper learning. It’s a common trait, especially in children and, let’s be real, plenty of adults, too.


Leadership development researchers also emphasize a key trait of great leaders: the ability to be led first. The best leaders are lifelong learners, willing to take instruction and refine their skills. Leadership isn’t about skipping steps to appear ready, it’s about mastering the fundamentals, even when it feels like you're falling behind.


A Lesson in Patience


That day, my son reminded me of a hard truth: before you can lead, you must be willing to be led.


You must have a servant mentality.

You must practice patience.

You must learn to take sound advice, even when it feels inconvenient.


Because the moments where we slow down and truly listen?

That’s where the real growth happens.


With that being said

Let's Take Fly.te!


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