Why Great Leaders Say ‘I Don’t Know’

A note to young leaders.
Nothing is more disarming than authentic humility.

In the summer of 2003, I attended a series of philosophy lectures, together with the late, great John Caldon.

The lecturer, whose name sadly I no longer recall, had complete mastery of his subject matter and had us all spellbound.

At the end of the lecture, an audience member raised her hand and asked a very erudite question – to which the lecturer smiled and replied: “The answer to that is very simple: I don’t know.”
“Ahhh,” John exclaimed clapping his hands softly, “isn’t that great, Adam? He doesn’t need to be a know-all.”

Leaders must know the vision, strategy and values of their company and must practise and teach these with optimism and enthusiasm. In all other matters, they should feel free to smile and say: “I don’t know.”