Choose to Know: Just When You Thought You Didn't Know the Answer

What is the classic response when being asked a question you don't know the answer to or facing a challenge you are unfamiliar with? "I don't know"... I mean, I do know, but the answer to my question above is: "I don't know"...you know what I mean.

There have been several times throughout my career that I didn't know the answer to something. Especially when in a leadership role. In fact, most leaders are thrust into a leadership role with little to no training and find themselves in an "I don't know" situation abundantly. But whether you've been in your role for years or decades or are just starting out the reality is you don't know everything and you won't be prepared for every situation that comes your way.

So that leaves another question, is not knowing ok? Does it taint my leadership if I don't know the answers, especially in front of the people who trust that I will have the answers? The simple answer is no. But I don't write these articles just to end it on the simple answers. Let's break this down into a bit more of a complex idea.

First of all not knowing is ok and some can argue that it is good and helpful for learning and growing as an induvial. In many ways not knowing forces curiosity and finding an answer. This research then bolsters our ability to understand deeply and we can use the learnings to solve not only the current problem, but future problems as well.

Here is where it gets complex. While you definitely don't know the immediate answer to everything like some kind of walking "Google Search", you have it already in you to solve every problem. You have the combination of experience and knowledge to be able to find "a solution" to any problem you face. So in reality you do know the answer, you just have not yet put the pieces together to make it make sense to you or the person bringing the problem to you. This is where you have to actively choose to know.

Yes, knowing is a choice. Knowing takes effort, looking inwardly, being aware of the outwardly, and a little bit of research. Knowing also means failing, and being ok with that outcome. The fear of failure runs rampantly in our society today and choosing to know or try an answer where there is a chance of failure, means you are also choosing to learn and grow. Many leaders kneecap themselves because of their fear of failure. They avoid failure so much that they also avoid the natural learning process that comes with it and can slowly remove themselves from a genuineness that would make them legendary.

However choosing to know is in fact easier said than done. But don't worry I'm going to go over what it looks like and what simple question you can ask yourself to make this easier.

So now you've come to a challenge you don't know how to solve immediately and you have intentionally and actively chosen to know. This next question is important. What would you do if you did know? Ask yourself that question plain and simple. Once you ask yourself that, now you can begin to decipher and pick apart all the things in the way of getting to that answer. This is where you try things that you won't immediately succeed with (failure) learning from them and eventually getting to the end goal of what you are going to do now that you know.

Here's the kicker, AS a leader, you should be using this practice mostly on the people serving under you. Sure it's definitely for you and your own growth, but even more powerfully used as a tool to help your personnel learn and grow. They too can choose to know. They too can ask themselves, or be asked by you, "what would you do if you knew?" This unlocks an autonomy in them that develops them as a leader themselves. It enriches their leaning experience and builds them up as independent critical thinkers. Having a team full of those kind of people doesn't have to be a dream it can start with choosing to know that they are capable and that you are the vessel to help get them there.

P.S. Count how many times this week you didn't know the answer. Then replace it with choosing to know. See what happens and post your experience in the comments!