THE POWER OF “I DON’T KNOW” IN BUSINESS RELATIONSHIPS:

“I don’t know.” are the three most powerful simple words in business. Those words mean that the other person is taking your question seriously.

This simple admission that you don’t have all of the answers is refreshingly honest and authentic in today’s economy. A humility is the true mark of trustworthiness.

I am sure you are aware of those people that try to maintain an appearance of strength, expertise, influence, knowledge….. for fear that others will see them as weak or vulnerable.

Many people put a lot of energy into keeping up a façade in their business relationships, but why? Don’t they know that it will harm them more than help them, especially when you building relationships with other people?

To openly admit that you don’t have all the answers is one of the hardest things for business people.

Saying “I Don’t Know” can open the doors to a healthy discussion about possible and even better solutions.

The fact that the individual may be admitting he/she isn’t the ultimate source of wisdom is not the point; the point is that now everyone is able to focus on the need itself and how to meet it most effectively together as a team.

Sometimes just saying the authentic magic words “I Don’t Know” can result in amazing things!!! 

“The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing,” –Socrates.

 

This is a fundamental approach from which success in this new era of connections with other people with authenticity and genuinely must truly begin.

What is actually the real message these three words convey with regards to building powerful connections? It is admitting or maybe I better say, as some scholars suggest, acknowledging of lack of knowledge in a specific area. This act by itself can define and deepen the relationships with the other person. Why?

Here some powerful reasons:

REASON #1: “I Don’t Know” Creates New & Real Opportunities. As you probably heard many times before, you should never stop learning. You can never be expert in all areas.

By admitting the areas or issues that unknown to you, you create an opportunity to another person (assuming he is knowledge in that area) to step into the relationships and offer his help.

It will with no doubt give you an enormous value, which by itself is a great healthy basis to develop reciprocal business relationships. Isn’t it true?

REASON #2: “I Don’t Know” Enforce Growth by Knowledge. There is no doubt that when you say: “I Don’t Know”, you actually asking for more and right knowledge.

You already assume that there is somebody who has the right knowledge and you just need to find him.

In building business relationships we see it as a laser focus relationships strategy. You put for yourself a target (consciously or unconsciously) to seek for the right person who has the necessary knowledge and will help you get it fast. This is definitely an interesting opportunity to form a new relationships or to deepen existing one.

REASON #3: “I Don’t Know” Deliver Team Commitment & Spirit. I always believe that there is nothing in life that can be achieved without the help of other people. I never met a person who knows everything [although I met some people who THINK they know everything].

Your ability to admit that you “don’t know”, you create a space to other to chip in and engage with others. You will create a special powerful team that will use each other knowledge and talents to maximize results.

These words facilitate collaboration and co-creation, to think about a solution or idea that we could never have imagined on our own. It breaks down walls and silos and bring back the team spirit.

REASON #4: “I Don’t Know” Takes you out of the Comfort Zone. If you want to build brave and valuable connections that will take your business forward and fast, you cannot get too comfortable.

Your engagement with other people should be based on a culture of inquiry–where “I Don’t Know” (and “Let’s Find Out”) are valued–helps create constructive agitation and naturally bond you with the other person.

REASON #5: “I Don’t Know” Creates a Culture of Happiness. You want to build healthy and happy business relationships. The ability to seek advice of other people, internally or externally, creates a culture of togetherness and happiness.

By creating a culture of “I Don’t Know,” connectors help build a place where most entrepreneurs want to connect, their opinion is matter and their idea can make a real difference to others.

Why do people have to pretend to know everything? Just be clear – saying “I don’t know” is not a weakness. Nowadays, the opposite is true, it is a sign of strength.

There is so much power in the words “I don’t know.”, that I truly believe it is in that moment that trust is formed between two people.
For the avoidance of doubt, if you do know something…well, then, yes, state it clearly, with confidence and conviction. This single honest admission can bring interesting people to your life!

Remember: there is no value in pretending to know everything just to look good, because in the long run, if you’re wrong, you just look bad, and you’ll will harm your relationship with the other person!

So, next time you are faced with a situation when you do not really know the answer, try answering “I don’t know…but we can figure it out together.”

Do you remember the last time you used the words “I Don’t Know” that helped you connect with another person? Did it result with direct help to your business? 

I don’t know; you tell me.