Have you noticed something about human beings? We always want to have an answer. We believe that if we can answer any question at any time, we will be viewed as intelligent, knowledgeable, or wise.
Why do we desire to know the answer to anything that comes our way? It’s from years of programming telling us that we have to have the answer. If we don’t, we’re dumb, uneducated, or lacking in some area.
Photo by Dmitry Ratushny on Unsplash
I want to encourage you today that it’s okay not to know the answer.
It’s Okay Not To Know The Answer
A common saying in the self-improvement world is:
If you’re the smartest person in the room, you’re in the wrong room,
I’m not sure who initially said this quote. The quote has been attributed to Lorne Michaels, Marissa Mayer, and others. No one seems to know who really said this.
Regardless of who initially said this, it’s an accurate quote. If you’re the smartest person in the room, you’re in the wrong room.
We will be asked questions we don’t know the answers to. Sometimes, we’ll feel silly because of who’s asking the question. Who might make you feel silly? Your 3-year-old son might make you feel silly when you don’t know the answer to his question. It’s a simple one that you should know, but you can’t remember or you never learned the name of the extinct dinosaur he’s showing you.
Or what if it’s your boss? He’s asked you for information from a report you compiled. Three weeks ago. You don’t have the answer, at least not at your fingertips. You feel sheepish and tell him you don’t know.
Ugh…
We feel less-than, silly, or weak in these situations. It’s not because we are it’s because of the pressure to always have an answer.
But sometimes, you can’t have an answer on hand…
And that’s okay. You don’t have to know the answer to every question thrown your way. You can’t have the wisdom of the world compiled in your mind.
What You Can Do
There is something that you can do when you don’t know the answer to something. Answer truthfully.
When your child asks you the name of the dinosaur you thought you knew, tell him you don’t know. But you’ll be willing to research the topic with him. Take him to the internet or a book about dinosaurs. Look through the information you have. Discover the dinosaur’s name.
Now, you’ve not only got the answer, but you’ve also helped your son learn how to find the answer for himself.
Or the boss who demanded the information. Tell him truthfully you don’t know at this moment. Let him know you have the information back at your desk, on your laptop, or in a file. Inform him you’ll be glad to get back to him by the end of the business day so he can have the information he needs.
When you admit you don’t have the answers, people aren’t going to freak out on you. Especially if you let them know you’ll look into what they need.
So, what can you do when you don’t know the answer?
- Admit you don’t know the answer
- Ask for time to get the answer
- Research/grab the information you need
- Understand what you’re finding
- Report back with an answer
If you do the above steps, people won’t see you as an underachiever or stupid. They’ll see someone who takes responsibility, finds the answer, and gets things done.
Be that person.
