When I started working 5 years ago, I would shudder in the face of questions that I didn’t have an immediate answer to.
In my mind, not have the answer at the ready was synonymous with failure.
I’d have toxic, counterproductive thoughts like:
“Why can’t you be more prepared?”
“You should know better.”
In hindsight, I suspect that coming fresh from an environment that often prized the rote memorization of material had something to do with this.
Over the years, my perception has changed drastically.
In fact, one of the things that I’m most proud of is my team’s comfort and willingness to say “we don’t know…but we’re going to find out.”
A lack of knowledge is nothing to be ashamed about. In fact, recognizing what isn’t known is the ultimate impetus to learn and grow.
Recognizing what you don’t know isn’t about exposing deficiencies or weaknesses, it’s about exposing opportunities.
What you don’t know, you can find out.
Read that again.
That’s power.