When I start a new project or a new job I like playing dumb. I pretend I know absolutely nothing about how to do my job.
Is that shocking? It is so contrary to what we think we should do – we should always show our knowledge and that we know exactly what to do in any work situation. How else can we take charge? How do we direct our people and make sure everything is done right?
What is wrong with conventional thinking is that we mistakenly believe that as we gain experience we fill up the knowledge bucket. We believe the 850 pieces of knowledge in our bucket are all the pieces there are. We don’t realize that there are really 1,000 pieces and we are missing 150 pieces.
When we work with a group of people, everyone is anxious to show off their 615, 783 or 847 pieces of knowledge. But what about those missing pieces?
How do we discover them?
By playing dumb.
Our goal is to change the dynamic of the meeting. Instead of everyone impressing each other with their personal knowledge we change the focus to discovering the 150 missing pieces.
Playing dumb starts with listening, not to what is being said, but to what is not.
I like to bring out my inner 3-year old who constantly asks “Why?” By asking “Why; How; Who does that; When?” we go deeper and think about why we are taking the actions we are.
Answers such as “because that is the way we’ve always done it” or “because that’s the way I like to do it” come under scrutiny. Those answers tell you people aren’t thinking and they are expecting this new project to just be a repeat of past projects. They will be unprepared for new issues unique to this project which will result in inefficiency and extra costs.
As I have risen in management ranks, increasing my dumbness has become a critical management skill. If I dictate every action then I don’t train my team to think for themselves and solve problems on their own. But if I play dumb I can guide them through the thinking and learning process.
If my team collectively only knows 600 pieces of information, through my continuous questioning like a 3 year old I can ask the questions that lead them to discovering the other 250 pieces that I know. As for the remaining 150 pieces none of us know, it is amazing how our collective thinking and questioning brings those to light.
One more thing: Do you know what else we call playing dumb?
Being a humble leader.
Empowered women aren’t afraid to play dumb and teach their team.
