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No Answers

Reading this Inc. article made me think of people I have come to know over the years. Could not think of anyone who is prone to using all the six phrases in the list consistently - some leaders use more from this set than others. L came to mind for always getting on calls with customers with "How can I help you" - and did not matter how upset that customer was when they called L, they always end up calmed down and eager to do more business with L's company. "I trust you" is a popular one - the folks that came to mind in that context were typically managers that teams liked and got along with. They were also more likely than not to ask "What do you need from me" - to make sure they were being useful and removing obstacles for the team. 

I think what I have heard the least and wish it was more popular for the powers that be to say "Honestly, I don't know". There is a presumption that they do or should know. When they don't allow themselves to be vulnerable and admit to not having answers, that presumption becomes an axiom - everyone proceeds from there to the great detriment of the organization. It takes a great deal of courage to say I don't know but I can try to work out the answer together with everyone else. That would be viewed as an admission to not having vision, not being strategic and the rest. So down in the ranks, folks might not be inclined to accept this person as their leader. 

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