You Don’t Have to Have All the Answers: Why Admitting "I Don’t Know" is a Power Move
When I became a new manager, I made one big mistake right out of the gate: I thought I had to have all the answers. All the time.
Spoiler alert: I did not.
One day, my boss asked me about a project my team was working on. Specifically, when it would be complete. I didn’t know the answer. Instead of admitting that, I panicked and made something up.
I was off by a month.
Now I had a choice: speed up my team by a month (not realistic) or go back to my boss, own up to my mistake, and explain what happened. Yikes.
It was a dumb move. And I wish I could tell you I learned my lesson right then and there. But nope. It took me a while to shake this idea that a "good leader" always knows everything.
But let me tell you what I know now as a career coach: you don’t need all the answers to be good at your job.
You just need to know how to communicate, stay curious, and be honest.
Be Career Courageous™: It’s okay to say "I don’t know" — just follow up.
Why We Think We Have to Know It All
We’re taught that being competent means being quick, confident, and ready with a solution. But the truth?
Career planning, management, and leadership are full of gray areas. No one knows it all, not even your boss. The most respected professionals are the ones who know how to say, "Let me check on that and get back to you."
Fumbling for an answer, guessing, or pretending only makes things worse. Worse for your reputation, worse for your team, and definitely worse for your stress levels.
What to Say Instead
Here are a few phrases that sound confident and keep the conversation moving, without pretending you’re a walking encyclopedia:
"There are a lot of moving pieces to this one. Let me double-check and get back to you."
"That’s a good question. I don’t have the answer right now, but I’ll find out and circle back."
"I have a team meeting later today, and I’ll have a full update after that. Can I follow up with you then?"
"I want to be sure I give you the right info. Would it be okay if I confirmed and responded by [insert time/date]?"
Saying these kinds of things doesn’t make you look weak. It makes you look thoughtful. And reliable.
Why This Matters for Your Career
Whether you’re in your first job or leading a department, your ability to navigate uncertainty is a key skill. It shows emotional intelligence, self-awareness, and maturity.
Being career courageous means being secure enough to admit you don’t know, and responsible enough to go find out.
It also builds trust. When people know you’ll get back to them with accurate information, they’ll rely on you more. Funny how not knowing everything can actually make you a go-to person.
Feeling Stuck in Your Job Because You Don’t Feel "Expert" Enough?
Let me be clear: you are not expected to know it all. No one is. The trick is to stay open, curious, and proactive.
Whether you’re new in your role, switching industries, or trying to bounce back from a misstep, clarity and confidence go hand-in-hand.
That’s why one of the first things I help clients do is uncover their strengths. Because when you know what you do bring to the table, you stop obsessing about what you don’t.
Let This Be Your Permission Slip
You don’t need to fake it. You don’t need to overcompensate. You just need to:
Own what you know
Ask for help when needed
Be willing to follow up
That’s leadership. That’s growth. That’s being career courageous.
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