[October 30, 2017] If you are a leader and you don’t have the answer, don’t pretend you do. Yes, I know, the most hated words in leadership are, “I don’t know.” But the shortest way to lose credibility is to claim you do know it all.
Nothing is more frustrating for a good leader than to have another leader – especially a senior leader – pretending they know something when they do not. No one is expected to have all the answers. However, it seems to be in our human nature to resist admitting we don’t know something.
Why leaders habitually pretend they have answers when they really don’t is something psychologists have studied for a long time. My thinking is that they do it because it’s comfortable. Simple, that’s right, they do it to be happy; just like much of what we do it fits with our leadership style. Not knowing is chaos and not knowing is enforced uncertainty.
This is also about having moral courage. A leader must, absolutely, get their own act together early on in their career. It takes courage for anyone to take heat for not knowing something when they should. If faced with a problem the only answer is to be honest and straightforward with that fact.
If you don’t have the answer, here are some tips:
- Recognize that there will be times you don’t have the answer. Don’t panic or act without thinking.
- Don’t make assumptions about the problem. Go the extra mile to gather factual information.
- Be honest and admit you don’t know the answer.
- Be gracious about it. Remember that it’s a leader’s conduct, not their knowledge that makes them a good leader.
- Show follow-through by getting the answer. Complex problems will take time to get the answer but it shows persistence.
This is about leading by example. Leaders show that they are in charge but are not all-knowing, perfect, or faultless. This is called humility and it is appreciated. Being frank and honest is always the respectable thing to do and shows that the leader understands leadership.
[Don’t forget to “Like” the Leader Maker at our Facebook Page.]