Difficulty: Easy

How often have your heard somebody say, "I don’t know"? You ask them a question, an opinion, or something as simple as what do you want to eat, and you are met with this very unattractive statement. Quite often this is the lazy man’s answer to everything. What you don’t realize is that there are other ways of saying "I don’t know" just as easily yet it doesn’t demonstrate to the other person your ignorance on the subject.

For example: If somebody were to ask you what the 3 digits of ? (PI) were, which is 3.14, you can answer in one of several ways that will still preserve your intelligence and keep a conversation going if you were asked in mid discussion.

You could answer:

1) I wasn’t a big fan of math, but if you ask me about [your choice of subject], then that’s another story!

2) Why? Are you testing me? Wow that was such a long time ago, you better ask someone else.

3) Dang, I know that’s an easy question! Maybe I’ll remember what it is later.

Lets say you are having dinner with a date or with a potential business client. If you read my other post on Fog of War then you would know to pick a restaurant or establishment where you frequent and have the upper hand of using the environment to your advantage. And of course, the assertive individual that you are, YOU were the one to suggest the venue, not them. But lets say you didn’t have the opportunity or you were invited to have your date or business meeting in a fancy restaurant that you don’t know. If you don’t frequent fancy or fine dining restaurants then I’m sure you would find the whole ordeal quite unnerving as well.

So you have just sat down and your client or your date is looking through the menu. This is a restaurant you have not been to and not the type that you are familiar with either. As you look through the menu, your accompaniment asks you several questions where you don’t know the answer to each.

1. What are you going to order?

Sample Answer: "Wow, they have quite the selection! Do you see anything you like yet?"

2. What do you suggest?

Sample Answer: "That depends on what you like. I haven’t been to this restaurant before, lets ask the waiter to suggest something."

3. What kind of wine do you like?

Sample Answer: "I’m not quite the wine connoisseur, although I do prefer red. We could do a glass of house red wine."

4. Do you know where the bathroom is?

Sample Answer: "Hmmm, I didn’t notice on the way in. I can ask our waiter for you."

You get the point, NEVER SAY I DON’T KNOW!!

Eliminating the phrase "I don’t know" and replacing it with sample examples shown above will give your character much higher value.

Exercise: Whenever you find yourself in a position where you are inclined to say "I don’t know", simply casually pause, ponder or say "Hmmm" for a moment, and think of an alternative answer where you can bail yourself out in a more classy fashion. Also, if you are in a discussion with others and you catch someone else say "I don’t know", take that opportunity to think how they could have delivered a better alternative answer.