As a business leader, do you really know what you don't know?
Hard to answer, right?
What would make it easier to answer?
Let me share a quick story about my trip to Yellowstone this summer that might shed some light. My wife was to join, but her flight to Montana got cancelled during her layover in Chicago. We're planning the make-up vacation now.
Having been to Yellowstone twice in 12 months, I knew there were certain things that I wanted to see (my 'Objectives'): grizzly bears, bison, moose, wolves, etc.
Since my wife didn't join, and I only had a few days, I was pressed for time and didn't do my research first (hint: that's one thing that makes 'this' easier), so I proceeded to just drive around. That didn't work, but I had seen bears near the East Entrance last year. I drove east and, sure enough, saw a Mama Bear and her Cub...right where I saw bears last year. It would seem that experience helps, but it doesn't really tell me what I don't know.
As I continued past these two bears, I noticed a Park Ranger who had a crowd of people around him. The Ranger quickly directed us 100 yards or so off the road and to the edge of a small lake. This bear had just moved off the road and the Ranger knew that the lake was a destination. Apparently, the Ranger knew to watch here.
Watching other experts taught me something I did not know.
The next two days were amazing. I probably drove 200 miles during this trip, but I still had not seen a wolf. As the last day drew to a close, I saw a woman on a little hill (sitting in camp chair about 100 yards off the road) with a huge lens (I'm guessing 8" wide and 14" long) on her camera. There were only a few people with her.
When I approached her, I asked what she saw. "A pack of 18 wolves. They just dragged a carcass that the cubs were playing with."
"Wow", I said. "How did you find them?" She showed me her 2024 map of wolf packs in the park. This was the largest pack (in pink) and their den was just over one of the hills about 250 yards away. She lives in the area and had made it her hobby (business?) to know this. She follows the map, reads the updates from the Yellowstone Wolf Tracker, and visits a few times a week. She definitely knows what I don't know and shared HOW she gets this information.
Hmmm. Somebody who makes it their business not only to research, but also gain experience in a given area.
Imagine what happens when people spend decades researching, gaining experience, and delivering results in areas that might just be unknown or unclear to others. Now imagine what happens when those experts work with others who have similar experiences in different environments. The blind spots start to open up and the unknowns become knowable.
Knowing what we don't know is a matter of exposure. The greater the breadth and depth of that exposure, especially when coupled with the expertise of others, shines a light on what is knowable. The rest is asking the right questions of the right people.
