Leadership Wisdom of the Week #7

“When someone knowledgeable admits uncertainty, it surprises people, and they end up paying more attention to the substance of the argument”

– Adam Grant
Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don’t Know

Adam Grant’s book is about rethinking and accepting that no one holds all the knowledge in the world. And yet, it is so tempting to believe that we know how things are — especially when we have worked with them for a long time.

One of the best ways for leaders to ensure their own continuous learning, and to encourage it within their teams, is to be open about the things they do not know for certain or do not yet have answers to. It can feel uncomfortable, but showing that it is acceptable not to know, and encouraging the team to search for answers together, can be truly empowering.

Often, what we know, or assume we know, can become the biggest obstacle on our way towards our goals. In today’s fast-changing world, it is a valuable cognitive skill to recognise our own patterns of thinking and behaving, and to understand how they influence the results we achieve. In addition to challenging our own thinking, we should model this approach for our teams. When working with others, we should present our experiences for what they are — experiences, not truths. Saying, “In my experience, this has worked well before, but I’m not sure if it is the best solution in this situation…” invites shared reflection far more effectively than stating, “This is how it should be done.”

It can feel uncomfortable to share uncertainty, especially if you have built your leadership role on subject-matter expertise. However, the role of a leader is not to be the ultimate expert in every topic. On the contrary, it is to ensure that the best expertise within the team is used for the benefit of the organisation.

As I was writing this, I had to smile at the irony. I often write about leadership with a fair amount of certainty. Some of it is based on solid research and the thinking of great minds. Some of it is shaped by my own experience. And some of it, no doubt, deserves to be questioned. The more we take our own thinking for granted, the harder it becomes to change with the world around us.