It's Okay to Say "I Don't Know"

It's almost a waste of ink to say these are uncertain times. We hear it everyday. No matter what business you are in, you've probably experienced ups and downs lately and your employees are probably asking or at least wondering:

• Is my job safe?
• Is the organization financially sound?
• What does the future hold?

During a time of budget cuts and layoffs, employees look to you, their manager, for the critical information they crave. The reality is that you may not know the answers to their questions. Still, your responses send strong emotional signals about your ability to lead under pressure. Before you respond to those answerless questions remember:

• We're all human and humans naturally have fears. Don't be surprised or take it personally if you are met with tears, anger, or other strong emotions. Everyone reacts in their own way during times of uncertainty.

• Tell them all you know. Hiding details or facts from employees rarely benefits anyone. And, employees eventually find out the full truth. If you haven't bee
100% up front with the details from the beginning, your lack of transparency will work against you in the future. Guaranteed.

• Admit that you don't know. Sometimes you don't know all the facts or all the possible outcomes. The best thing you can do is to admit what you don't know and let them know when you expect to have more information.

• Redefine your expectations for performance. Today you are faced with an opportunity to redefine performance expectations for the job. Employees need to know what will differentiate them from others. This is the perfect time to talk about superior performance and how to achieve it. Employees need to know what it is and your organization needs it now more than ever.

Finally, approach these conversations (and these difficult times) as an opportunity to focus on your own personal growth. It's not going to be easy. You can choose to muddle through in a reactionary way or you can choose to learn new ways to be efficient, develop new skills, and develop the confidence you'll need to successfully navigate these tough times. Choose to grow.