One thing we’ve learned at Buffer is that being open to not knowing things seems to be the best way to learn quickly and teach others at the same time. So many of our biggest hits on the blog have come from saying, “We don’t know the answer. Let’s find out!” On many matters, we haven’t any authority. Is this an okay way to get by? We’ve found great success in not knowing, and there’s no reason why you can’t, too. While we can certainly see the value in establishing yourself as an authority in your industry, being the answer-man or answer-woman isn’t the be-all, end-all of your options. You can survive and thrive by embracing “I don’t know.” Here’s what we’ve learned so far.

1. Embrace What
You Don't Know

2. We get asked
a lot of questions...

3. How can I get more
followers on social media?

4. How can I get more
followers on social media?
What's a good
Google+ strategy?
How much posting
is too much?
What're the KPIs
of ROI on IG?

5. How can I get more
followers on social media?
What's a good
Google+ strategy?
How much posting
is too much?
What're the KPIs
of ROI on IG?
How do I make
something go viral?
What's the best
headline ever written?
Twitter or Facebook?

6. Sometimes,wedon'thaveananswer.

7. We're sure willing to find out.

8. We are authorities
on not knowing
You might say ...

9. When you think of an authority,
what comes to mind?

10. Influence
Expertise
The Right
Answers

11. Maybe we should
expand our definition

13. Find whatever it is
you're good at ...

14. Curation
Tools
Infographics
Humor
Transparency
Etc.

15. Andbeanauthorityonthat.

16. Over 70% of us
feel we don't have the answers

18. You're not alone

19. The majority of us
feel that we don't know

20. So let's turn
"not knowing"
into an asset

21. "I don't know"
=
Trust

22. When people say I don't know,
it lends credibility to everything
else that they've said.
JASON FREEDMAN

23. "I don't know"
=
Creativity

24. Stay hungry, stay foolish
SAHAR HASHEMI

25. "I don't know"
=
Innovation

26. While it is good to break rules
and push boundaries,
it's much better to just
never know that any rules exist.
NILS SKOLD

27. 1. Embrace what you don't know
2. Find out the answers
3. Claim authority in the strangest of places

28. Even more:
bit.ly/embraceunknown
Sources:
Ahmed Rabea, Death to Stock Photo, Crew blog