R
Raahil Modi
Guest
CURIOSITY
The surprising power of intellectual honesty in a world that rewards fake expertise
Photo by Chris on Unsplash
Last week, during a cafeteria hangout, a colleague of mine asked me about the latest changes in the Instagram algorithm.
Instead of doing what I usually do, that is cobble together half-information collected from various sources and present it with undeserved confidence, I said something that I normally donโt.
โI donโt knowโ, and nothing changed.
My colleagues did not judge my competence.
Instead, we had an actual conversation about what could have changed, and we figured it out together.
The Expertise Trap
We live in a world that mistakes confidence for competence. We are often rewarded for having opinions about everything, even things we have no clue about.
We are expected to be walking Wikipedia articles, ready with facts and insights at a momentโs notice.
We have become so afraid of appearing ignorant that weโve forgotten the value of being curious.
Weโd rather sound smart than be smart.
The Cost of Pretending
There are several hidden costs of pretending to know everything:
- We stop learning
- We make bad decisions
- We lose credibility
- We miss opportunities
- We increase stress (it is impossible to know everything)
Saying โI donโt knowโ may not be easy at first. But here is what it actually communicates.
- Intellectual Honesty
- Growth Mindset
- Respect of expertise
- Confidence
- Curiosity
The Ripple Effect
When you start saying โI donโt knowโ more often, you will notice people around you doing the same.
They will stop pretending to know it all and be as curious as youโre to figure it out.
It is like giving them permission not to know everything, so that they can relax. Teams become more collaborative. Meetings become more productive. Relationships become more authentic.
How to Say โI Donโt Knowโ Effectively
There are broadly three types of โI donโt knowโ.
- You do not know, but you can figure it outโ be specific about what you donโt know.
- You do not know, but then you know who wouldโโโfollow up with curiosity and own it confidently.
- You do not know, and are not sure of who wouldโโโset boundaries when needed.
The more you learn about things, is when you realize how much you didnโt know.
What if at workplaces people felt safe being curious? Where your colleagues would value your questions more than your answers. Where learning is prioritized over being smart.
These environments are not built by the company; they are built by the people who choose curiosity over certainty.
The Bottom Line
This world is full of people pretending to know everything. If you be the person who admits their ignorance, potentially you will stand out.
You will be the one people trust. You will be the one that people want to work with. You will be the one on a growth trajectory.
So, the next week, try to pay attention to how often you pretend to know something you donโt. Instead of telling on things you do not know about, try these three simple words: I donโt know.
You will be surprised at the outcome.
Why I Started Saying โI Donโt Knowโ More Often was originally published in Long. Sweet. Valuable. on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.
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