Few words are as simple to utter as "I don't know."
Yet, for many professionals, they are among the most difficult words to say.
Wasn't it easier to say those words as children?
Sometimes we genuinely did not know.
Sometimes we may have uttered them out of childishness.
We rarely worried about the consequences.
Even when there were consequences, they seldom left a lasting impression.
Sometimes we may have uttered them out of childishness.
We rarely worried about the consequences.
Even when there were consequences, they seldom left a lasting impression.
Somewhere along our professional journey, however, these three words begin to carry a different weight.
Some associate those words with denting their image.
Some equate it to admitting an incompetence.
Some think of losing someone’s confidence in them.
Some equate it to loss of their esteem.
Some equate it to admitting an incompetence.
Some think of losing someone’s confidence in them.
Some equate it to loss of their esteem.
Gradually, the fear of uttering those words become greater than the willingness to be truthful.
Over the years, I have discovered that saying "I don't know" serves three very different purposes.
Firstly, by saying so, we admit to a truth. It depicts the honesty in oneself.
Both get the respect. We earn trust for uttering a truth.
By faking our ignorance, we may be putting ourselves and others into difficulty. No one likes this.
By faking our ignorance, we may be putting ourselves and others into difficulty. No one likes this.
Secondly, by saying ‘I don’t know’, we allow ourselves an opportunity to ‘know’ about it.
Learning after all, is continuous, and everyone respects continuous learning.
I have discovered a third advantage during my stint in sales.
It was common for me to answer customer queries. Whenever I answered one question, another question used to follow. I answer that, and invariably I was getting ready to answer a third question. It was almost as if ‘who will blink first’ contest. To end this ‘contest’, I started telling my customers, even though I had an answer – “Thank you for this question. As of now, I don’t have the answer. Can I come back to you on this?”
Surprisingly, when I got back to the customer with my answer, there were no further questions, and invariably, a sale ensued.
Even though I discovered, and applied this logic in my sales career, I soon realised that this technique is valid even in our conversations in life.
“I don’t know. Let me come back on this” is a beautiful way to end an argument, a wonderful way to ‘lose’ to a near and dear one.
Not every discussion needs a winner.
Not every question requires an instant reply.
And not every opportunity to display knowledge needs to be accepted.
Not every question requires an instant reply.
And not every opportunity to display knowledge needs to be accepted.
Perhaps true confidence is not demonstrated by how much we know.
It is demonstrated by how comfortable we are with ourselves.
Comfortable enough to admit when we do not know.
Comfortable enough to seek clarification when required.
Comfortable enough to allow others their moment.
It is demonstrated by how comfortable we are with ourselves.
Comfortable enough to admit when we do not know.
Comfortable enough to seek clarification when required.
Comfortable enough to allow others their moment.
Professional maturity is not measured by having an answer to every question.
It is measured by knowing when to answer, when to enquire, and when to simply say, "I don't know."
It is measured by knowing when to answer, when to enquire, and when to simply say, "I don't know."
For those three words do not diminish our credibility.
When spoken with honesty and wisdom, they often strengthen it.
When spoken with honesty and wisdom, they often strengthen it.
One last question to myself.
Have my perspectives added value to you?
Have my perspectives added value to you?
I don’t know!