I’m a big fan of the Lakers (pro basketball, if you’re not up on such things). It’s the end-of-season playoffs, and the Lakers stomped the Phoenix Suns in the first game of the western conference finals. Kobe Bryant, the star of the Lakers, embarrassed Grant Hill (and others) who vainly tried to guard him. Afterwards, Hill simply said “Kobe is the best player in the game,” giving his opponent credit. When asked what went wrong for the Suns, Hill was similarly plainspoken, professing his confusion over the massacre that had just been completed: “I don’t know what we did right or wrong tonight.”
I find such simplicity and directness in Mr. Hill’s response unusual and refreshing. He is a 7-time All-Star himself, a man of great talent and someone seeking to become a champion in his sport before he retires. Imagine such a person admitting that he has been so dominated by his opponent he doesn’t even know how to distinguish good from bad! If only we had more leaders who were willing to be so honest.
How tiresome it is listening to leaders pontificate on things about which they know nothing. During my media training for publicity tours, I’ve been taught that you should never say you don’t know the answer to a question posed by an interviewer. The standard ploy is to provide an answer to something you do know, even if it does not address the question that was asked. I have used that strategy on a number of occasions, but every time I do so I become uncomfortable with the practice: after all, it is meant to portray me in a way that perhaps I do not deserve to be portrayed. It may be clever, but is it honest? Is it better to be seen as knowing something when you don’t, or to admit to ignorance and be seen as – well, ignorant?
This reminds me of a quote from George Orwell: “In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act.” Are we living in an era where we need many more leaders who will engage in such “revolutionary” behavior, regardless of the consequences? Do we need to train followers to embrace such revolutionary acts because of the benefits of having leaders who choose integrity over self-preservation?
May 19, 2010
Agreed – always better to tell the truth!
As a prehealth academic advisor at a state university, I sometimes do not know the answer to questions posed by students; there’s always something new. Within my office setting, I quickly call or stop by another advisor’s office to try to find the answer. If none of us know, I do the research to find the answer & then get back to the student at a later time. Time consuming? Yes. Worth it? Yes! My appointment evaluations by students have specifically noted their appreciation at my saying “I don’t know…but I’ll try to find out” instead of making up an answer.
My colleagues do the same. Even when giving presentations, we will state that we do not know but will try to find out the answer & then post the answer to our student email listserv & blog.
I cannot stress enough how much people appreciate honesty & realness. It’s actually to our benefit to admit that we don’t have all the answers. It’s almost contrary to what we might think: that admitting we don’t know it all essentially gives us more honor & credibility…& the chance to grow wiser.
May 20, 2010
Typical proper response: “I don’t know, but I will find the answer and get back to you.”
I like that you used Orwell’s quote of “universal deceit”.
Reminds me of: Matthew 24: 24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
The 4th commandment (on worship) has been a victim.
May 20, 2010
Agreed, when you have a one-on-one or one-on-several conversation – or even in a class etting – you can use thet “I’ll get back to you” response. (BTW, I find personally that few who say that ever do get back to me…) But it’s a different ballgame when you’re live on national TV or a network radio broadcast. Truth is still the solution, no argument about that, but it’s more difficult when you know you’re being interviewed because you’re “the expert” and have to admit you’re clueless.
May 21, 2010
Honesty remains the best policy. I have found, as both a public speaker and a professor, credibility goes UP when I admit what I don’t know, or that I made a mistake. I remember clearly how bad President Bush looked when he could not admit to making mistakes. Similarly, Obama looks equally smug and arrogant. As Christians, we should have no problem admitting when a question is beyond our current realm of knowledge.
May 21, 2010
This topic brings to mind my confusion over why we, myself included, must have an “opinion” about EVERYTHING. Even without knowing the answer, it seems culturally imperative to provide and defend an opinion whether it be about politics, religion, healthcare, colleagues, or the weather. Why is it so hard to simply say, “I don’t know where I stand on that”?
Do we risk becoming “jacks of all trades and masters of none” when we overload our RAM with information about so many different topics that we forego the ability to provide expert analysis of critical data? It begins to look like a clever little trap to me…one worthy of a masterfully deceptive adversary…but then again, what do I know…it’s just another of my “opinions”.
May 21, 2010
listen… it’s not an opinion when you’re always right.
this town needs an enema.