Cameron Conaway's Blog - Posts Tagged "courage"
The courageous ‘I don't know’
It’s a short phrase with the same amount of syllables as “I love you,” but it hasn’t received the same kind of societal acceptance.
Saying “I don’t know” is often seen as a symbol of weakness, and weakness is a trait many of us believe should be masked at all costs.
I recently asked a candidate a difficult question, but rather than redirect or make something up, they admitted with equal parts courage and confidence that they did not know. Their humility hung in the air in the brief pause after their words.
It was a beautiful gift to receive—a glimpse into their unwillingness to either run away or rely on some collection of widely accepted falsities or unknowables. Each candidate, more or less, brought the same technical skillset to the table, but this candidate will receive an offer.
Saying “I don’t know” is often seen as a symbol of weakness, and weakness is a trait many of us believe should be masked at all costs.
I recently asked a candidate a difficult question, but rather than redirect or make something up, they admitted with equal parts courage and confidence that they did not know. Their humility hung in the air in the brief pause after their words.
It was a beautiful gift to receive—a glimpse into their unwillingness to either run away or rely on some collection of widely accepted falsities or unknowables. Each candidate, more or less, brought the same technical skillset to the table, but this candidate will receive an offer.
