The best leaders use these three hard words, “I don’t know!” Lisa Kohn suggests we expect our leaders and ourselves to be infallible. It’s a huge – and impossible – mantle to carry. Instead we need to:
- Admit when we don’t have the answer
- Surround ourselves with smart people
- Be open to other perspectives
- Find people who’ve walked this road before
- But remember that experience may blind us to innovation
- Just say it
Source: Lead Change Group, January 19, 2017.
The strongest leaders are the ones who know what they know, and admit what they don’t know and what they’re not sure of. The strongest leaders I’ve seen reach out to others for opinions, advice, and perspective. They consider it, weigh it against their knowledge and truths, and make a thoughtful decision.