From Knowing to Doing: Turning Knowledge into Action for Stronger Leadership

There’s a saying that “knowledge is power.” And yes, knowledge is a powerful resource. It can expand your mind, open doors, and inspire dreams. But here’s the truth: knowledge alone is not power. Knowledge that stays tucked inside, never acted upon, is no more powerful than an unopened book on a shelf.

Real power — the kind that changes your life, your work, and your world — comes from applying what you know. It comes from transforming information into meaningful action. That is what sets apart strong leaders from those who simply collect information.

We live in an age of “information overload.” Podcasts, TED Talks, YouTube videos, blogs, books, social feeds — it’s easier than ever to get inspired. Yet it’s also easier than ever to stay stuck, hopping from one piece of advice to another without ever doing anything with it.

That’s why I challenge you, your students, your children, and your staff to be more than information junkies. Take what you learn, even if it’s a single small thing, and turn it into an action. That’s how you grow into a truly effective leader.

Here are five action steps to help you (and the young people you influence) move from knowing to doing:

Set One Clear Intention

It’s easy to feel overwhelmed when you learn something new. Maybe you just attended a seminar, watched a video, or read a great book. Suddenly, there are ten new things you want to change. But trying to do everything often means doing nothing.

Instead, ask yourself: What is one thing I will act on right now?

Define that single, clear intention. It might be:

• “I will start asking more questions when I feel unsure.”

• “I will practice gratitude each morning.”

• “I will follow up on with that mentor or partner that I made a connection with.”

One intention gives your brain a focus and helps you build momentum. Once you gain traction, you can always add more.

Create a Tiny First Step

Strong leaders break their intentions into micro-actions. It’s tempting to say, “I’m going to study more” or “I’m going to be a better communicator,” but what does that really mean?

Instead, break it down:

• “I will reach out to one new connection this week.”

  “I will raise my hand to ask one question during class.”

• “I will speak to three people I don't know today with more eye contact.”

When you shrink your first step, it removes

the mental block that causes procrastination. Tiny steps repeated consistently create big changes.

Put It on the Calendar

If you want to guarantee that an action happens, schedule it. Vague dreams live in the margins of your mind, but scheduled actions live in reality.

Think about what you just learned. Where in your week will you practice it?

• Block out 10 minutes on your calendar to rehearse a presentation

• Schedule a 15-minute reflection time on Fridays to review progress. We all need more scheduled "thinking" time in our lives!

• Plan one hour to shadow a mentor who demonstrates a skill you want to learn

Time you protect on your calendar is time you own. Without scheduling, your knowledge stays as only a good intention.

Share It With Someone

Accountability makes action real. I highly suggest finding an accountability group. I have had one for over 20 years and we do life together on top of holding each other accountable. They are invaluable to me! Share what you’re working on with a friend, coworker, teacher, or parent. Say, “I’m trying to take action on this — can you help hold me accountable?”

Encourage your peers, kids or employees to do the same. Research shows people are far more likely to follow through on a goal when they tell someone else. It shifts your learning from private to public, which makes it harder to ignore and easier to commit.

Plus, when you share your learning journey, you inspire others to do the same.

Reflect and Refine

Strong leaders don’t just take action once. They reflect, refine, and improve. That’s what growth is all about.

Set aside time regularly to ask yourself or discuss with your students, peers or family:

• How did that action feel?

• What worked well?

• What was hard?

• What will I tweak next time?

Reflection is how you transform busy doing into purposeful progress. Encourage young leaders in your circle to see learning as an active loop: Learn → Act → Reflect → Learn again. That’s how knowledge truly sticks and creates real transformation.

Why This Matters

For parents, youth educators, and coaches, this mindset shift is critical. Kids today have incredible access to information — far more than we did growing up. But information without follow-through can leave them frustrated, distracted, or overwhelmed.

We need to teach and model that learning is valuable only if you do something with it. By guiding them through these five steps, you help young leaders grow the courage to act on what they know. That’s how they build self-trust, resilience, and authentic confidence.

If you’re reading this and thinking of your own leadership journey, I invite you to ask: Where am I stuck in information-gathering mode? Then pick one of the steps above to move forward. You might be surprised how much lighter and more motivated you feel.

Because knowledge is only potential. Action is what turns that potential into results, growth, and impact.

So this month, let’s commit together — parents, educators, and leaders — to move from inspiration to implementation. Let’s build habits, take risks, and put what we learn into motion.

After all, the next generation is watching us. They will copy what we do, not just what we say. If we show them how to take the smallest piece of knowledge and make it matter through action, we’ll be planting seeds of leadership that last far beyond our own reach.

Let’s move from knowing to doing, one clear action at a time. That is true leadership in motion.