I used to think intelligence was about how many facts you knew. Now I think it’s about how willing you are to change your mind. The people I admire most are the ones who ask the best questions, not the ones who have the fastest answers. In a group setting, when someone says “I don’t know” out loud, it creates space. Space for others to step up, to contribute, to think aloud without fear. The opposite happens when everyone pretends to know what’s going on. You get silence. People nod along while internally panicking. No one wants to be the first to look confused. That’s how entire companies fail. That’s how toxic work cultures are born. The strongest teams I’ve seen are led by people who openly say things like “I’m not sure, what do you think?” It signals humility, but also security. Insecure people can’t admit uncertainty. Strong people can.
I used to think intelligence was about how many facts you knew. Now I think it’s about how willing you are to change your mind. The people I admire most are the ones who ask the best questions, not the ones who have the fastest answers. In a group setting, when someone says “I don’t know” out loud, it creates space. Space for others to step up, to contribute, to think aloud without fear. The opposite happens when everyone pretends to know what’s going on. You get silence. People nod along while internally panicking. No one wants to be the first to look confused. That’s how entire companies fail. That’s how toxic work cultures are born. The strongest teams I’ve seen are led by people who openly say things like “I’m not sure, what do you think?” It signals humility, but also security. Insecure people can’t admit uncertainty. Strong people can.