Not Knowing
By Peter LloydIn my never-ending search for the ultimate truth, I asked a group of about 30 executives, "Which came first, the chicken or the egg?" Nine said the chicken. Five said the egg. The rest didn't answer. Except one who had the courage to admit, I don't know.
The chicken-egg question doesn't have an answer. Does it? I don't think it would matter if it did. But most executives, teachers, policeman, consultants, journalists, politicians, and parents find it difficult to admit ignorance.
Editors think they have to improve every article that crosses their desk. Managers lose sleep at night thinking of ways to direct their subordinates. And every member of every committee feels compelled to make a contribution to the program whether the program needs it or not.
A simple "I don't know" is the first step toward the solution to any problem. Because only when we admit that we don't have the solution can we begin an honest-to-goodness search for the solution.
Too many creative efforts are sabotaged by managers sending their people on search missions for a solution they secretly believe they already have. You know this is the case when you present your solution and the manager frowns and admits, "that's not exactly what I was looking for."
No one has all the answers. Most of us don't have most of the answers. Some of us don't have any answers. A condition sometimes referred to as bliss.
Peter Lloyd is co-creator with Stephen Grossman of Animal Crackers, the breakthrough problem-solving tool designed to crack your toughest problems.