Again Not Much Is Known About This Boss

Y'all're in a coming together, just wrapping up your status update, and things are going well. The group seems reassured that you're on top of things. And then, just as y'all're nigh to close your laptop and head for the door, your boss' peer asks, "How are projections looking for Q2?" Your boss nods in your direction and suddenly, all optics in the room are dorsum on you.

Blurting out a panicked "I don't know!" may seem like the path of least resistance in an uncomfortable moment—simply if you desire to be taken seriously equally an emerging leader, you should ditch that phrase and learn what experienced leaders say when they don't know the reply.

Saying "I Don't Know" Costs You lot Credibility and Influence

I once spoke with a woman who was truly an adept in her field—the only engineer on her software team with a PhD. But despite her technical chops, people kept sidestepping her and going to her boss with questions that she could take answered.

It turns out that the tech-savvy PhD was in a job that required her to correspond the department in senior-level executive meetings where it had been deemed acceptable—even encouraged—to interrupt whoever had the floor and fire a rapid stream of tough questions at him or her. No matter how meticulously the engineer prepared for the meeting (and firing squad), she would inevitably fumble, lose her composure, and say, "I don't know. I'll inquire my boss."

Only like that, she had inadvertently trained people to get to her boss with their tough technical questions. Information technology turns out that Dr. Phil was right when he said, "We teach people how to care for us"—and that this is particularly true when it comes to establishing credibility and influence at piece of work. Every time y'all say "I don't know," you teach people not to come to you next time.

"I Don't Know" is Not an Answer—or an Option!

Once, while at a professional crossroads, digital marketing executive Dr. Patricia Fletcher reached out to a mentor for assistance. When her mentor, Jeanne Sullivan, a seasoned investor and corporate board member, asked what Fletcher would do in a hypothetical situation, Fletcher began her response with "I don't know…."

Sullivan cutting her curt, reminding her, "'I don't know' is non an reply. The correct reply is, 'I don't have enough information to answer your question.'"

Fletcher now looks dorsum on this as one of the all-time pieces of communication she's ever received. "When information technology comes to business, at that place's no such answer equally 'I don't know,'" she says.

Prepare a More than Powerful Response

In the business earth, a person who speaks with confidence is likely to be perceived to be competent.

Writing for ForbesWoman, negotiation and leadership practiced Selena Rezvani suggests, "Rather than turning to 'I don't know' every bit a default, prepare yourself with some more than powerful responses."

Wondering what your options are? Hither are four powerful options I recommend you lot commit to memory:

1. "I don't have plenty data to answer your question." —Jeanne Sullivan, founding partner of Starvest Partners (and Dr. Patricia Fletcher's mentor)

2. "Adept question. I'll detect out." —Chris Turkovich, principal program manager

3. "Based on what we know today, my thoughts are…" —Selena Rezvani, leadership writer, speaker, and consultant

4. "I don't have the data at hand, simply I'll go it to you subsequently today." —Senior software engineer

The PhD software engineer from the story above practiced these responses while standing in forepart of a mirror until she was able to stand her ground when fielding a tough question. Now, when pressed for an answer, she looks the inquisitor in the centre and responds in a way that builds her leadership presence and say-so. And now, colleagues and execs alike know to come to her—first, before her boss—with technical questions.

Communicating with conviction is part of a leader'southward job. To join the rank of truly infrequent leaders, upgrade your communication toolkit and eliminate your "I don't knows" in favor of more than powerful responses.

Jo Miller is founding editor of Be Leaderly and CEO of Women's Leadership Coaching, Inc. Jo is the creator of the Women'due south Leadership Coaching® system, a roadmap for women who want to interruption into leadership. She has traveled in Europe, Northward America, Asia Pacific, and the Middle E to deliver keynotes and workshops, and counts being the only Aussie women'south leadership bus in Iowa among her unique "koalafications." Read more from Jo at www.beleaderly.com.

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Source: https://www.themuse.com/advice/what-leaders-say-when-they-dont-know-the-answer

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