Admit when you don't know...

I had one of those moments the other day when someone asked me a question on how to move forward with a project, and I knew I could come up with something that "sounded" good, but I also knew I wasn't really sure that was the best approach. So I took that fearful step forward and said the words we all hate saying, "I don't know". I waited for the inevitable sighs in frustration from everyone in the meeting...but it didn't happen. Instead, we talked through the problem, discussed solution - and as a team - came up with a really good idea on how to move forward.

There are plenty of times when I find myself in one of these moments when I'm being asked by a client, or my boss, or one of my co-workers, a question to which I feel ("feel" being the keyword) that I should know the answer to. I'm always tempted, even if just for a second, to act like I do know the answer, even if I don't. One of the harder things to do is admit when you - the one who's supposed to have the answers to a particular task project, or job - doesn't know what steps to take next. It feels like all eyes are on you, and if you say, "I really am at a loss as to where to go from here" or "I have no idea" you just took a nosedive on a suicide mission.

The trick here is that admitting when you don't know the answer is actually the smartest thing you could do. It gives you the opportunity to be pushed by others further than you thought possible and it also facilitates teamwork. Ultimately it produces better results. You can't do it by yourself and no one really wants or expects you to. Admit when you need help and everyone - especially your clients - will benefit from your honesty.