Three words that the best business leaders use

They're probably not what you think, either.

A recent article by Inc. discussed how entrepeneurs react to the absence of information on which they can build narratives.

In Rising Strong, Brene Brown, a research professor at the University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work, said that these narratives can be thwarted by incomplete data at your fingertips.

We're wired for story and in the absence of data we will rely on confabulations and conspiracies.... More information means less fear-based story-making.

The response to this problem is three little words:

I don't know.

When Maren Kate Donovan discussed the collapse of her billion-dollar startup Zirtual, she said:

Faking it doesn't change the reality of any [bad] situations; it only leaves you and others feeling even more alone.

In short the best response to a problem you aren't equipped to solve, is to admit you don't have an immediate answer and attempt to equip yourself to solve it.

Answers such as "Let's look at this when we know a little more about it" or "Let's discuss how we can find out more about this situation" are usually far better ways of saying "I don't know" - you're indicating you intend to find the answer.

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