The Power of Saying “I Don’t Know”…

We often believe that leadership means having all the answers. But in my experience, the best leaders are the ones who are confident enough to say, “I don’t know.”

Take Rachel, the new Managing Director of a family-run construction firm in Kent.

She took over from her father and felt enormous pressure to seem sure-footed and decisive. So, even when she wasn’t sure, she pretended to be.

The result❓

​Her leadership team stopped speaking up. They didn’t want to contradict her or offer alternative views. Innovation stalled.

When we started working together, I challenged her to lead with curiosity instead of certainty.

Instead of bluffing, she started saying things like, “That’s a great question - I don’t know the answer yet, but let’s find out together.”

The shift was dramatic. Her team became more engaged, collaborative, and open.

Within five months, they won a new council tender worth £1.2 million - thanks to an idea one of her junior managers had previously been too nervous to suggest.

In my experience, vulnerability builds trust. And trust builds high-performing teams.

You don’t need to know everything. You just need to ask the right questions, listen deeply, and create space for others to shine. That’s what real leadership looks like.

What do you think❓