Many managers feel pressured to have all the answers, creating an exhausting culture of overreliance on them. This can hinder team self-sufficiency and drive burnout. Embracing humility and admitting uncertainty can strengthen teams, fostering innovation and problem-solving. Five practical strategies for leaders include maintaining a “Things I don’t know” notebook, encouraging team discussions about unknowns, asking meaningful questions, reversing hierarchical structures for better expertise access, and modeling openness by saying “I don’t know.” These approaches can lead to healthier, more productive work environments.
