Transparency
“It’s okay to admit what you don’t know. It’s okay to ask for help. And it’s more than okay to listen to the people you lead – in fact, it’s essential.” ~ Mary Barra
Back when I started teaching college courses, one joking piece of advice I received was, “If a student asks you a question and you don’t know the answer, just say, ‘That’s beyond the scope of this course.’”
It was an acknowledgement that many of us hesitate to step into authority roles because we don’t have every answer, and we are afraid of looking ignorant and losing people’s respect if someone asks a question and we don’t know the answer.
As leaders, we actually increase the respect people have for us if we are honest about what we don’t know. Don’t be afraid to say something like: “Ooh—good question! Let me check the data and get back to you.” or “Glad you thought of that—we should look into that immediately.” or “This is why I’m so glad you’re on our team; I hadn’t even considered that.”
Show that you are willing to learn more. Show that you are willing to listen. Show that you would rather get it right than pretend you know what you’re doing.
(image generated using Midjourney)