While I was in college I spent many weekends each winter teaching
survival in Utah’s rugged wasatch mountains.  We would cross country
ski deep into the mountains for three days and two nights in below zero
temperatures.  All we carried with us was what would fit in a small
fanny pack.  We had no tents, no sleeping bags, no stoves, no lanterns,
no extra clothing.  It was what you were wearing when you left the car,
and what you could stuff into a small fanny pack.  Then, the adventure
began.

As I’ve recounted those stories over the years to friends and
acquaintances, the common response is, “Oh, I could never do that.” 
Maybe that’s what you are thinking right now.  But the fact is, you
could do it.  Not only could you do it, you could do it fairly
comfortably.  In fact, you could probably do twice or three times that
much without really stretching yourself.  It’s remarkably easy when
someone who knows how shows you the way.

That same principle applies to work.  How many of our employees say,
“Wow, I could never do that,” when in fact you know they could. 
Perhaps they say that out of fear or not wanting to do what you’re
asking, but most often what they are really saying is, “I don’t have a
clue how I would go about doing that.”

Never take training for granted.  Never assume everyone knows what
you know, or can do the things you can do.  Just because it’s easy for
you, doesn’t mean others don’t struggle with it.  The easiest way to
find out is ask.  This is especially true when someone is taking on a
new assignment.  Within just a few days, we ought to be asking, “Is
there anything you’re struggling with in your new assignment?  Anything
I can clarify, or help you with?”  This simple question could be the
difference between success and failure for the person who’s taken on a
new job.  Or, at the least, it can be the difference between a quick,
smooth transition and a lengthy struggle to learn new responsibilities.

If you’re going to ask your employees to dig a little deeper, be sure you give them the tools they need to be able to do so.