Have you ever found yourself locked in an argument, not because you were certain you were right, but because being right felt necessary? It’s a common trap, particularly for leaders. The pressure to appear knowledgeable and in control can feel like a hallmark of strong leadership. But at what cost?
The compulsion to be right often blinds us to alternative perspectives, limits our creative problem-solving, and stifles growth. On the flip side, embracing not just answers but better questions allow us to explore complexities, uncover hidden opportunities, and lead in a way that’s both empathetic and forward-thinking.
The shift from demanding certainty to seeking understanding equips leaders to adapt to an unpredictable world. It isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about allowing curiosity, vulnerability and collaboration to guide possibilities.
The Impact of Uncertainty
Uncertainty breeds fear. Fear pushes us to cling for control, driving an instinct to seek definitive answers with hopes for stability. This cycle is natural; predictability feels safe.
But here’s the reality: yesterday’s strategies rarely resolve today’s new problems and growth opportunities. An approach that once thrived may fall short in the face of modern challenges, especially in an era where people, industries and technologies are evolving at an unprecedented pace.
Consider businesses that resisted digital transformation, assuming their historical success would protect them. Many learned too late that holding on to old models blinded them to new opportunities.
As such, the question isn’t about settling on “the answer.” Instead, it challenges us to ask better questions, like, “What biases might shape my thinking?”, “What assumptions am I making?”, or “How can I broaden my view before deciding?” These types of questions break us free from the past and begin to prepare us for the present and the future.
The Limitations of Needing to Be Right
Leaders who prioritize being right often stumble into predictable traps. Here’s what happens when certainty becomes the goal:
1. Fear Breeds Rigidity
When fear dictates your actions, you might resist change and alternative points of view. Fear makes it difficult to see beyond what you know and blinds you from what you should be learning.
2. Trusting Outdated Solutions
Reliance on past successes can create dangerous complacency. Think of companies like Blockbuster—sticking with what worked in the past while the streaming age overtook them. Leadership anchored to the past often struggles to keep pace with present complexities.
3. Simplistic Thinking
The need to be “right” narrows thinking. Complex problems get reduced to binary choices—success or failure, yes or no. But leadership is seldom black-and-white; it exists in the nuanced gray where real opportunities lie.
4. Discomfort with Ambiguity
Our brains crave clarity, so the unknown can feel like a threat. Ambiguity is an invitation to grow. Leaders who avoid discomfort miss out on the opportunities that uncertainty often inspires.
The Value of Seeking Understanding
Shifting toward curiosity over control is a sign of maturity and one’s desire to explore possibilities. When we prioritize seeking understanding, the benefits ripple through teams and organizations.
1. Broadening Perspectives
Curious leaders enjoy navigating uncertainty with adaptability. Asking open-ended questions like, “What are we missing?”, “What did we not consider?”, “Do we have the right people in the room?”, encourages fresh thinking and uncovers possibilities traditional approaches might overlook.
2. Fueling Innovation
Seeking understanding empowers leaders to challenge assumptions, explore untested ideas, and unlearn what no longer works. Every thoughtful question becomes a reinvention moment, a spark for innovation.
3. Empowering Teams
Confident, impactful leaders share ownership of problems. By admitting, “I don’t have all the answers” and asking team members, “How do you see it?”, leaders foster work environments where creativity and individuality thrive. Zoimé Álvarez Rubio, President & CEO of the Puerto Rico Bankers Association, summed it up well when she shared with me, “I need to know what I don’t know. If I don’t recognize my limitations, I miss the opportunities to empower others more.”
4. Anticipating the Future
Effective leaders anticipate challenges not by clinging to answers, but by anticipating what’s next. They ask probing questions like, “What could go wrong?”, “What’s another perspective?”, “What’s the best possible outcome that could happen? prepare teams for evolving risks and opportunities. Leaders who seek understanding are better equipped to adapt proactively instead of reactively.
It’s Not About Having All the Answers
Next time uncertainty pushes you toward control, press pause. Instead of demanding answers, start asking better questions. What perspectives haven’t you considered? What lessons might discomfort teach you?
And as you ask those questions, remember this truth about leadership. Recognition might command applause, but respect builds legacy. Aim not for fleeting moments of acknowledgment, but for meaningful, enduring influence—the type that reverberates long after the moment has passed.
Leadership isn’t about static solutions; it’s about agile growth. When we release the need to always be right, we create space for substance over ego, connection over control, and growth over stagnation. It’s not about having all the answers. It’s about walking alongside your questions with heart, humility, and the resolve to lead with understanding.