11 Words That'll Earn You More Trust

The Phrase:

“I don’t know anything about that, can you tell me more?”

The moral:

Don’t pretend to know. Ask.

Why It’s Impactful:

* Shows that you’re curious (rather than a know-it-all)

* Builds trust (Admitting you don’t know something shows humility)

* Invites connection (people love being asked to share what they know)

* Boosts learning (makes people who know about the thing excited to teach you)

* Inspires respect (being genuinely curious signals emotional intelligence)

* Most Important: It helps you avoid looking like an idiot

Where I got it:

When I was 22, I read John Cleese’s excellent autobiography, So Anyway…

In the book, Cleese recounts a pivotal moment early in his career when he realized that the most impressive and confident people he worked with didn't pretend to know things they didn't know.

One day, someone asked a question about a topic Cleese didn’t understand. He was used to bluffing or nodding along (something many people do to avoid looking ignorant).

This time, he tried something new. Instead of pretending to know what he was talking about, he asked:

“I don’t know anything about that — can you tell me more?”

To his surprise, their reaction was not ridicule, but respect.

The person was happy (and excited) to explain, and it opened the door to a real conversation, free of ego or pretense.

Why it stuck with him:

Cleese found the moment liberating. It went against the social instinct to save face or look knowledgeable, especially in the British public school and Oxbridge culture, where knowing things and being witty was social currency.

What a relief! All of a sudden, one of his biggest sources of social anxiety was a source of strength. It meant you were teachable, authentic, and curious.

The takeaway:

Humility is essential to learning and growth. Asking questions without fear is often what leads to the best creative breakthroughs.

The ability to admit you don’t know and invite someone to teach you is a superpower.

The best part is, people love explaining things they know more about than you do.

Pro tip:

This is an excellent filter for people and group culture.

If you admit to a peer, authority figure, or boss that you don’t know something you “should,” and they berate you, you are in the wrong place.

Egotistical, small-minded people berate others.

Secure, growth-minded people teach what they know so everyone in their group can win together.