Don't Say No, Say "I Don't Know"

You might be wondering, saying 'I don't know' is okay? But how does not saying 'no' make sense?" Well, it doesn't always, and in this article, it definitely doesn't—but I added it anyway. We are humans, not GPTs or robots, which means we are imperfect and don’t know everything.

We don't know a lot of things. Agree?

In a corporate setup, we often find ourselves in situations where we don’t know certain specifics of a project, its requirements, outcomes, or scope. Or take any other personal situation—like when your girlfriend asks you to name her favorite movie and you don’t know. Obviously you don't, who does, right?

So, what do we do? We look at the situation, analyze it, and often bluff our way through. Your girlfriend might appreciate a bluffmaster, but your boss definitely will not. Instead, say that you don’t know. Now, will this leave a good impression on your boss? He might think, "Oh, what a clueless fellow, he doesn't know this simple thing and always says 'I don't know'." So, we have a solution: follow up your "I don't know" with a proactive plan.

Say, "I don’t know just yet. Give me until 4 PM tomorrow, and I will come up with a solution." In the meantime, do your homework and come up with a solution.

I know, 24 hours may not always be enough time for a complete solution; if it were, everyone would become the boss's favorite.

We often don’t have the full solution. So, what do we do now?

At 4 PM tomorrow, tell your boss your progress, what you have done so far, what remains to be done, and provide a roadmap to the solution. Your boss will be happy to see that you are making an effort. This is far better than just saying "I don't know" and leaving it at that.

Outcomes of This Attitude

1. Builds Trust: Your boss will trust you more because you are honest about what you don’t know but are committed to finding the answer.

2. Shows Initiative: Taking proactive steps to find the solution demonstrates your initiative and willingness to learn.

3. Encourages Learning: This approach encourages continuous learning and growth, making you more competent over time.

4. Enhances Reputation: Over time, your reputation as a problem-solver will grow, and your boss will appreciate your dedication and effort.

Admitting "I don't know" is not a sign of weakness but an opportunity for growth. So next time your girlfriend, your boss, or your girlfriend who is also your boss asks you something you don't know, say "I don't know".

Love,

Snehal Patil

https://www.dhirubhai.net/in/patil234snehal/