Admit it. You Don’t Know!
Short version: people will trust you more if you admit it… unless it’s about whether or not you turned off the stove… maybe not so much (guilty)
Long version:
I don’t know who gave me this advice, but thank you. The idea that anyone, in any position, in any industry, should feel like they have to pretend to know everything related to what they do for a living is insane.
And I’d even go so far as to say that if anything… pretending to know everything may hinder your ability to truly succeed.
There will never be a time when there isn’t something to learn, or someone to learn from. We can either: choose to not just accept that truth but to embrace it… or run from it. …or, technically speaking, you could also walk. I guess speed doesn’t matter. Hated running track in high school so I feel you if that’s the case.
In my experience, there have been a variety of working, leadership, and communication styles that I’ve come to love or steer away from. There is one common trait that I gravitate towards - and that is being able to admit when there is something you don’t know, followed up with vulnerability in asking others their thoughts, seeking to understand, or expressing a promise to dig into something more.
It’s comforting, relatable, and human.
It builds trust -- and proof that you don’t have to know everything to be successful as a leader, a colleague, or a friend.
I took this approach recently when building what is now Reinspire with Renee. There is actually not one single part of the website that wasn’t critiqued, suggested by, or questioned, by another well-equipped person with their own share of experience and unique perspective. And while I didn’t ask intentionally about certain aspects of the site on a case by case basis, I knew that this was a new venture that I knew very little about. And for that, I had to admit that I simply did not know all there was to know about how to do this.
So I brought in the troops!
Two weeks before launching, I sent out an email asking 20 of my close (and very inspiring) friends to review the site and to tear it to shreds. And they did! (SIDE NOTE: That’s another thing critical to growth - having no pride in ownership. Someone doesn’t like what you wrote? What color you picked? Your life will be unchanged. Appreciate the feedback, and move on.)
This group sent back what became a 17-page Google doc (single spaced) full of commentary, questions, suggestions, very opinionated thoughts about layout, very opinionated thoughts about photo selections, even more opinionated thoughts about style and tone, and I couldn’t be more grateful.
There were pieces of feedback in there that I would have had never even KNOWN to think about. Like, my brain didn’t even know those were callouts I should have considered. But that’s the beauty in admitting when you need others to step in - because as dumb as it sounds, “teamwork makes the dreamwork”. I’m cringing actually for writing that. But there’s no such thing as a successful one-(wo)man-show.
I’m challenging you to this: the next time you hesitate because you’re unsure of something, or about to start something new, pause. Pause, pause, pause. Raise your hand and ask. You’ll be surprised at how willing people are to help, and the wealth of knowledge you may receive.
And if they’re assholes, Google it.
XO Renee
P.S. Thought I was joking? Here’s some of the feedback I got:
The visual people:
The people curious about the (old) website name:
“I want to hear more about the website name. Would you ever want the domain to include your name if, let's say, you made this a full-time thing? lol don't mind me, just pouring gasoline all over a small spark of a side project!”
The people defending the lazy people:
“Is it possible to have like a write in/message me option that is straight on the website vs. opening up email? Could save some lazy people from bailing!”
The (cough VPs of social strategy that double as your boyfriend that review your site on their laptop while you type non-English notes on your phone):
IG centered
Rewind feature
Wordiness
What did I do in each LS event
More in beginning of experience to give context? buckets/ tabs under experience?
How we partnered w/ CP
Em. experience tab? (???????)
Solutions: resume, coaching, interview help
That’s a wrap. :)
