Leadership can be a strange thing.
Many people become leaders because they are competent. They get things done. They solve problems and they can answer questions.
But over time, it can start to feel as though the leader is expected to have a response for everything.
But what if one of the most powerful things a leader can say is:
"I don't know."
Not as an excuse. Not as an abdication of responsibility. But as an act of honesty.
I sometimes wonder whether leaders underestimate the power of modelling vulnerability.
We live in a world that often rewards certainty. We celebrate confidence. We admire expertise. And so many of us have become familiar with the phrase, "fake it until you make it."
But is there room alongside competence for vulnerability? Is there room for a leader to say:
"I hadn't thought of that."
"That's a good question."
"I don't know the answer."
"What do you think?"
These are not signs of weakness. They are invitations. They create space for others to contribute and give them permission to step forward, take ownership and develop their own leadership.
Sometimes the quickest way for a team to grow is for the leader to take up a little less space. Not disappear or disengage but just step back enough for others to step in.
I have noticed that teams become more effective when people feel able to raise concerns, spot problems and speak up about the things others may have missed.
No leader sees everything. No leader knows everything. The question is not whether there are things you do not know but whether your team feels safe enough to help you see them.
Perhaps the next right thing is to ask yourself:
When was the last time I openly admitted I didn't know something?
Your answer may tell you a great deal about the culture you are creating around you.
#dothenexttrightthing
