Start Saying "I Don't Know"

I just heard a great future TED talk - we were his test audience - that one of my colleagues will be giving around leadership and how trust is a critical component to it. One of the key points we discussed was for leaders to be vulnerable and to show it/share it. I thought about that and it made me reflect on some meetings recently that I have had with C-level executives in my firm. I realized that I have had meetings with them and I have gone in trusting them. After hearing the talk today, I realized why - they are comfortable with saying "I don't know".

Too many times I have been in meetings with executives (peers & "above") and they ramble off a lot of industry buzz words and business words but nothing is really being said. They answer questions by not answering the question. I walk away from those conversations not trusting their leadership or their investment in my success. Those types of leaders are not ones that I want to work with for long periods of time. Those types of leaders are not the type of leader that I want to be.

Saying "I don't know" (in the various ways that you can) can be a very powerful use of words. It can bring about constructive conversations that lead to great outcomes. "I don't know" can garner trusts from your teams. That simple act of vulnerability can lead to better outcomes and productivity.

So if you think you're a good leader and have the trust of your teams, ask yourself when was the last time you said "I don't know"? That answer may lead you to have to rethink how much trust you really have earned with your teams.