When I first started my career, I thought I had to be the one with all the answers all the time. Over the years, I've learned that you don't have to be that person. Of course you have to know your stuff, but you don't have to know it all.. And the best part? If you surround yourself with the right people, they will help you grow and learn. So not only do you not have to have all the answers, being able to say I don't know and can you help me will make you a smarter and better leader. Thank you Business Insider for the opportunity to reflect on lessons I've learned over the years.
JPMorganChase CMO, Carla Zakhem-Hassan, shares one of the best pieces of advice she's received since taking on the role — "You don't have to have all the answers." #CMO #Marketing #JPMorganChase #CannesLions
Stephen Gee
2w
Great advice, 100% Agree. Putting yourself in a place where you are safe to say "I don't know", to be inquisitive, ask "Why" and have enough confidence to know that the knowledge that got you here, won’t get you there is critical for leaders today.
I love this Carla! Senior Leaders being humble, authentic and showing they are humans too - goes such along way in creating and fostering a great team dynamic.
The feeling of always knowing everything is one of those imposter syndromes that women experience more than men. I am grateful to have learned this about half way into my leadership journey. Carla, this is truly valuable insight. As leaders, we have to be make ourselves vulnerable too.
I love the rare times on LinkedIn when someone obviously skilled, talented, and experienced shares real valuable lessons with a heavy dose of realism and zero self-promotion. The real ones tend to be the best ones. Great stuff, Carla Zakhem-Hassan.
Great advice Carla Zakhem-Hassan. It helps if leaders work with a team they are comfortable with telling their knowledge gap to; and the team in turn, cover up for their leader’s knowledge gap without disrespecting or spiting the leader.
True that Carla...and it takes a lot of self assurance to do that as well! Real leader!
There's so much to be gained from having the courage to say "I don't know." I wish more leaders were comfortable with it and like you said surrounded themselves with people who do know and can help them grow
Totally agree! True leadership shows a great amount of humility as well! Well said! 👍🏾
Many individuals struggle with imposter syndrome and believe that they must always have all the answers as leaders. However, true leaders recognize the importance of surrounding themselves with experts. Even the president relies on advisors. Thank you for the insight, Carla!
Leader of Change | Strategist
2wSuch an insightful piece of advice Carla. There is so much to gain from being humble and listening with both ears as a leader. I remember witnessing this behavior for the first time in my career at the IMF where Madame Lagarde would not hesitate to tell her high level senior staff (most of them, men) that she did not understand what they were presenting and that they needed to come back with a presentation that we could all better comprehend. What a lesson in Leadership it was for me!