We learn by sharing our ignorance – not by ignoring it – you can’t pretend your way to knowledge

“School trains us never to admit that we do not know the answer, and most corporations reinforce that lesson by rewarding the people who excel in advocating their views, not inquiring into complex issues. (When was the last time someone was rewarded in your organisation for raising difficult questions about the company’s current policies rather than solving the urgent problems?”  Even if we feel uncertain or ignorant, we learn to protect ourselves from the pain of appearing uncertain or ignorant.  That very process blocks out any new understandings which might threaten us.  The consequence is what Argyris call “skilled incompetence” – teams full of peoples who are incredibly proficient at keeping themselves from learning.  Senge 1990:25

  There is something I don’t know

  that I am supposed to know.

  I don’t know what it is I don’t know

  and yet am supposed to know,

  and I feel I look stupid

  if I seem both not to know it

  and not know what it is I don’t know.

  Therefore I pretend to know it.

  This is nerve-racking

  since I don’t know what I must pretend to know.

  Therefore I pretend to know everything.

  Laing (1970:56)