Last month, I was interviewed by my good friend Marlo Boux on her BlogTalk Radio Show about a recently released report indictating the fact that boomer women were not being totally truthful with their doctors and doctors were not asking the right questions.
During the course of the interview, the host asked me this question: “Why do you think doctors aren’t asking questions to their patients?” My reponse was, “I really don’t know—I have no idea.” Now, I could’ve “guesstimated” my opinion on why doctors weren’t quizzing their patients on what’s ailing them but I really had no answer so I felt it was best to just say I don’t know.
Sometimes as experts and business owners we don’t have ALL the answers, therefore, we should not be ashamed or afraid to say we don’t know. Does that hurt your credibility? As a Media Trainer I say no. What it says is you’re honest about the fact that you don’t know everything and you don’t have a problem admitting it.
While I am a media expert, I realize there is an aspect called “podcasting” that is not my specialty but it is an important component to media. That’s why it’s good to have folks like Martin Brossman around who will pitch in to help as needed—which he will be doing during my 4-week Gimme The Mic! Media Training sessions starting on March 23 in Raleigh, NC.
Admitting what you don’t know won’t hurt you–pretending you know everything will kill you and your business.
I’m with you on this one. As a consultant, some people think I know all the answers and I readily tell them I don’t, but I can find out. And let’s face the fact that the question you were asked was a speculation question where any response you gave could have been challenged anyway.
Mitch,
I would never claim to be a “know-it-all” not even as a journalist 🙂