Early in my career, I dreaded admitting knowledge gaps. I worried that my perceived competence would take a hit or saying ‘I don’t know’ would somehow bring work to a standstill.

This fear of vulnerability at work stems from a complex cocktail of internal and external factors – a recipe that varies for each person and workplace. And we have to recognise that not everyone saying they’re unsure will receive the same response. That has certainly been my experience, and I know I’m not alone in this.

Despite this, as I continued my career, I grew more comfortable saying that I didn’t know. This shift had three key benefits:

1. People around me also became more comfortable saying ‘I don’t know’.
2. Each “I don’t know” became an opportunity to go on a lovely learning journey.
3. I became more confident in putting my head above the parapet and saying, ‘I do know’ when the opportunity came up.

What once felt like a sign of weakness I now saw as a path for development (much like failures). The best responses I saw from my team and colleagues not knowing were ones that sparked action: “I don’t know… but I’ll learn more” or “I don’t know… so I’ll ask someone who does” or even “I don’t know… and so I think that right now my time will be better spent elsewhere”.

If saying ‘I don’t know’ feels like a Scooby-Doo style reveal that you’d do anything to avoid, here are some steps you can take to increase confidence:

1. Share your uncertainty with a trusted colleague or mentor.
2. Dedicate time to mapping out your next steps once you notice a knowledge gap.
3. Engage a coach to explore tools and confidence-building strategies.
4. Track your learning journey and share progress with your manager.

Remember, the most powerful “I don’t know” isn’t the end; rather it’s the start of something exciting.