The Competence Paradox: Why the People We Trust Most May Be the Ones Who Say “I Don’t Know”
The most dangerous sentence in an organization may not be: “We’ve always done it this way.” It may be: “We already know.” We already know what customers want. We already know why people are leaving. We already know why sales declined. We already know what the problem is. And sometimes, of course, we do. But yesterday’s insight can quietly become today’s assumption. This article explores the hidden tension between expertise and curiosity — and why great leaders may need to become comfortable saying: “Here is what I think. Now help me discover where I might be wrong.” Because wisdom may begin the moment experience says, “I’ve seen this before,” and curiosity replies: “Maybe. But look again.”
