It’s Okay to Say, “I Don’t Know”

In the workplace, a lot of us want to be seen as professionals who know what we’re doing, myself being one of them. If someone asks you a question and you don’t know the answer, it’s understandable if you don’t want to say, “I don’t know.” You may think that by saying that, you may look incompetent, but that’s not the case. By saying you don’t have the answer, you are being honest and transparent.

A lot of companies say that they are solution oriented, and that they don’t want their employees to say, “I don’t know.” I argue that this is oversimplistic; it entails more than that. It’s okay to say, “I don’t know” and figure out the answer. If you don’t want to say the three forbidden words, “I don’t know,” then you can say, “Good question! Let’s figure this out.” That’s one of my favorite methods to approach a question I don’t immediately know the answer to. I’ll usually stick with the person until the problem is solved. That way, both the other person and I learn something new and useful. 

No one knows how to do everything. We’re all continuously learning how to do our job and how to do it more efficiently, effectively, or with whatever challenges this year may bring (like the pandemic). It’s okay to ask for help because you don’t know how to do something. Saying, “I don’t know how to ______. Can you help me?” is a way to improve your job performance. By learning how to do what you don’t know, you get better at your job. And by being honest and vulnerable, you empower your colleagues to do the same also. If everyone at your workplace learned to be totally okay with asking for help, then everyone’s job performance can only improve.

Saying, “I don’t know” has been a taboo in the past, but it is becoming more and more accepted. People need to be able to admit what they don’t know, so they can learn it. Admitting you don’t know how to do something or saying you don’t know the answer is not a sign of weakness, but a sign of authenticity, honesty, and strength. It’s something more and more people should be okay with, especially nowadays.

Roderick Conwi writes about personal and professional development at Nourishment Notes. He is also the author of The Procrastinator's Quick Guide To Getting It Done. To get powerful insights to enhance your day, join his FREE newsletter.