I Don't Know
"I don’t know, but let me find out for us."
That might be the most powerful phrase I use as a manager. I use it all the time because, most of the time, I have no idea.
I used to be afraid of admitting I didn't have the answer. I felt that I was put into a position of leadership so I must have the answer. That I was incapable of doing my job if I didn't know. It became easy to fake it, to give an answer, or pretend I knew. But over time I realized that I can't know everything. And I'd rather be honest and transparent than a fake.
That simple phrase provides transparency. It tells your team: "I don't have all the answers, but I'll do whatever I can to find them out." My goal as a manager is to empower my team to seek out answers, to ask questions, to learn, and to grow.
It's not our job to know everything. It's our job to empower people to be better at their job. Good management is about service. It's the ultimate call to serve someone else before yourself.
What are you doing today that empowers your team?