How to Lead When You Don't Have the Answer Yet
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Have you ever been in a meeting where a question lands…and you instantly feel the room turn toward you?
Your brain searches.
Nothing shows up.
And suddenly the pressure isn’t about the question anymore — it’s about you.
In today’s episode of The Storyteller’s Edge, Ginger breaks down one of the most revealing moments a leader ever faces: being asked something they genuinely don’t know yet.
This episode isn’t about winging it.
It’s about what actually signals authority when certainty isn’t available.
You’ll hear the simple structure Ginger teaches executives to stay grounded, credible, and in control — even when the answer isn’t ready.
HERE ARE THE 3 KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM THIS EPISODE:
1. The Room Isn’t Judging Your Knowledge
They’re watching your center of gravity.
When a leader scrambles, over-explains, or fills space with noise, it reads as instability — not transparency. Authority isn’t proven by having every answer. It’s proven by staying steady when one is missing.
2. Noise Erodes Trust Faster Than “I Don’t Know Yet”
Most leaders think uncertainty is the risk.
It’s not.
The real risk is trying to cover the gap with speculation, hedging, or unnecessary detail. Noise creates diversion, not direction — and people feel it immediately.
3. Clarity Under Uncertainty Is a Learnable Skill
Ginger teaches a simple, repeatable structure leaders use in high-stakes moments:
- Acknowledge the question without flinching
- Anchor to what’s true right now
- Define the path to the real answer
It takes about ten seconds — and it instantly shifts the power dynamic in the room.
Say what you know, name what you don’t, and clearly outline what happens next.
Want more like this?
Subscribe to The Storyteller’s Edge so you never miss an episode — and bring the moments you’re wrestling with. We’ll break them down together.
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Storyteller’s Edge isn’t just a podcast—it’s also a newsletter.
Get the insights delivered weekly to your inbox. Subscribe at: https://www.motive3.com/newsletter
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Connect with Ginger: LinkedIn: @gingerzumaeta
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