Something to doWorking with your manager
Say you don't know yet, then find out
A micro habit for answering honestly when you're not sure, and building trust by following through
Why it’s worth your time
An honest “not yet” followed by a real answer builds more trust than a confident guess. Guesses that turn out wrong teach people to double-check what you say. Saying when you'll know, and then following through, shows you can be relied on even when you don't have the answer yet.
How to say “I don't know” at work
You’ll come away with one honest “not yet” and a follow-up sent on time.
We’ll turn this into a checklist you can tick off.
- Notice the urge to guess.
It usually shows up as a hedge: probably, I think so, should be fine. If you'd be uncomfortable being quoted on it, you don't know yet.
- Say so, and say when.
Name where you'll find out, so it's clear you're not dodging.
You“I don't know yet. Let me check with the data team and get back to you by three.” - Ask what they need it for.
A quick why before you go helps you bring back the right answer, not just an answer. Sometimes a rough figure is plenty.
You“Is this for the budget meeting, or do you need the exact number?” - Write the follow-up down right away.
On your calendar, a list, a note to yourself. A promise that lives only in your head tends not to survive the day.
- Send the answer by the time you said.
If you still don't have all of it, send what you've found and when you'll know the rest. Coming back on time with part of the answer still keeps the promise.
Good moments for this: whenever you're asked something you're not sure ofin meetings with senior peoplein your first months in a new role
We’ll turn this into a checklist you can tick off.
Keep going with Truest
Small actions add up. Truest helps you find the next thing worth doing, make the space to do it, and keep a record of your progress. It’s a private place to work on your career, and it’s yours, not your employer’s.
- It actually happensDo it now, and you’ve invested in your career today.
- You know what’s nextTruest suggests the next small thing to try, based on what you’re working on.
- It’s yours to keepEach thing you do is saved to your private record, there when your next review or job search comes around.
Anything else we can help you with this week?
Making it work for you
Every workplace is different. Here’s what to think about before you start, and what might get in the way.
Things to think about
A guess they repeat to their own boss, and then have to correct, costs them more than waiting an hour.
What might make this harder
People expect someone new to be learning. Quick, reliable follow-ups are one of the surest ways to earn credibility in a new role.
Questions people ask
Is it okay to say I don't know at work?
Yes, especially when you add when you'll know and then follow through. It tends to build trust, because people learn your answers can be relied on.
How do I say I don't know professionally?
Say you don't know yet, say where you'll find out, and give a time you'll get back to them. Then do it.
How should I answer my boss when I'm not sure?
Share what you do know, say which part you need to check, and give a time. If they need something now, give an estimate and label it clearly.
Why this works, and where it comes from
There's a moment, often in a meeting, when someone asks you something you're not sure of and every instinct says answer anyway. Not knowing feels like a small failure, especially in front of a manager. So people guess, round up, or say probably with more confidence than they have. Most of the time the guess is close enough. A wrong guess costs more than an honest not yet, because it teaches people to double-check you.
From the other side, a guess that turns out wrong is expensive. Your manager may have repeated it to their boss, made a decision on it, or told a client. Walking it back is uncomfortable for them, and it quietly changes how much they rely on what you say next. An honest not yet, followed by a real answer at the time you promised, does the opposite. People learn that when you do answer, they can build on it.
The follow-through is what turns this from an admission into a strength. Saying you'll find out and then forgetting is worse than guessing, because now you've been both unsure and unreliable. The moment you say when you'll know, write it down. That small act is most of the habit. And asking what they need the answer for, before you go looking, often means you come back with something more useful than the question they asked.
Psychologists call the underlying trait intellectual humility: recognizing the limits of what you know. It isn't the same as being unsure of yourself. It's knowing where your knowledge stops and saying so, which is what makes the rest of what you say easier to rely on.
Other simple things to consider
More in Working with your manager
See allRead this alongside your role page
Tell Truest what you’re dealing with
We read every one, and we write guides for the things that come up most. Leave your email if you’d like to hear when we do.
An exercise written by Truest, based on our experience. Last updated October 2, 2026. We sell a career membership; where that’s relevant above, we say so.