If you don’t know, say so: A self-check for leaders  

Checklist

1. When did you last say, ‘I don’t know’ in the workplace?

a. Within the last 24 hours or so.

b. I can’t remember the precise occasion.

c. Never.

2. How often do you answer a question in a seemingly confident way when you are not actually sure of the answer?

a. Never.

b. Occasionally.

c. Frequently.

3. In your view, how will people think differently of you if you say “I don’t know” when asked a question?

a. They won’t think any differently of me.

b. It depends – it won’t change how I’m seen by people close to me, but others may see me as lacking in some way.

c. They may lose a degree of trust in my leadership.

What your answers say about you

Mainly As: You are a confident leader and perceived as authentic by your team.

Mainly Bs: You’re getting there, but you need to remember the upside of being open with colleagues.

Mainly Cs: You fear appearing weak in the workplace and are very well-defended. Check out the tips below to see how admitting that you don’t know everything can have the opposite effect to the one you’re worried about.

6 reasons why it pays to say “I don’t know”

1. Build trust and bind people together

Trust is a vital commodity in leadership, but, according to numerous employee surveys, it is in short supply. Being honest by admitting that you don’t have all the answers is key to building trust with peers and reports.

2. Encourage a culture of learning

Reflection and learning are the lifeblood of an organization, but they are intangible and difficult to measure. Saying “I don’t have the answers now, but I’ll go away and find out” helps cultivate a spirit of learning.

3. Promote psychological safety

People often hesitate to show vulnerability because they think it’s a sign of weakness, but it’s a strength if you show a path forward. This helps create an environment where people can experiment without fear of failure or reproach.

4. Learn from mistakes

People learn from mistakes, and so can organizations – but you can’t learn from your mistakes if you don’t admit to them. Better to “fess up” fearlessly and invest in discovering real solutions, rather than try to cover up.

5. Build your leadership brand

Revealing that you don’t know everything is an instance of self-disclosure, a character trait that research has shown to be equated with authenticity – an invaluable quality in leaders.

6. Provide reassurance when facing the big unknowns

It’s better to reassure people that you understand their sense of uncertainty than claim to be all-knowing. This will only damage your credibility inside and outside the organization and make you a hostage to fortune.