Comments on: You’re Allowed Not to Know Something

By: You’re Allowed to Make Mistakes « Beyond the Rhetoric

You’re Allowed to Make Mistakes « Beyond the Rhetoric — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 18:02:22 +0000

[...] as you are allowed not to know something, you are allowed to make mistakes. You can be wrong. It is only through making mistakes (and [...]

By: betshopboy

betshopboy — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 03:02:58 +0000

The biggest turn-off as a customer is to be served by a dishonest and/or patronizing sales person.

If the sales person tries to bullshit his/her way through and the customer calls his bluff, then the company which the sales person represents will lose all credibility.

By: Ray Ebersole

Ray Ebersole — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 16:42:57 +0000

Always “but I’ll find out”, then you really need to find out and follow up with the customer. You accomplish nothing if you don’t follow up.

By: Ed Lau

Ed Lau — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 14:52:34 +0000

If you’re good enough at bullshitting, you can convince people that your way is, in fact, the correct way. Worked for me plenty when writing essays.

On the flip-side, you could simply avoid all this by…well, knowing everything. You’re totally right in that respect…if you don’t know it, you got to learn it.

By: Michael Kwan

Michael Kwan — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 19:49:09 +0000

I was just about to add that idea as an addendum to this post. Even in the context of sales and customer service, it is perfectly acceptable to say you don’t know something, as long as you add the all-important “but I’ll find out” after it.

By: Gil Namur

Gil Namur — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 19:32:06 +0000

Whoops .. I meant to say .. Hi Michael!

By: Gil Namur

Gil Namur — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 19:30:33 +0000

Hi Ray,

Nice article! I totally agree with you.

EarningStep – I have been in sales and marketing for many years. To say “I don’t know” is totally ok so long as its followed by “but I’ll find out”. Which is actually the title of an upcoming article.

I don’t know, but I’ll find out.

Honesty, is ALWAYS the best policy.

Cheers,

Gil

By: EarningStep

EarningStep — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 01:06:01 +0000

i am not 100% agree with you ray.. when you are a marketer or supervisor level. you need to learn how to say.. yes i know , let me try it.. if i found any difficult i will sending SOS for help.. this is what i got from my manager. about how to be a top marketer

By: Ray Ebersole

Ray Ebersole — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 00:42:33 +0000

Absolutely spot on. Nothing wrong with saying “I don’t know”, but then you should try to find out. Learning experiences are always good when we want the knowledge. I always want it, so I’m always searching.

“Fall down seven times, get up eight.”

By: Derek

Derek — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 20:36:27 +0000

Agreed – the key is being confident enough to admit to others that you don’t know and then taking action to get the answer. I’ve been guilty of it myself over the years and it really is kind of silly.

Now, saying that you don’t know and then not doing anything about it is equally as silly.