As my friend Simon Sinek says, “Be the idiot.” Or in my case? Be the dumbass.

At first glance, that might sound counterintuitive—why would a leader want to be seen as clueless? Isn’t leadership about being the expert, the authority, the one with all the answers?

Not exactly.

One of the most powerful lessons I’ve learned is that great leaders don’t need to know everything. In fact, the moment you think you’re the smartest person in the room, you’ve stopped learning—and that’s the real danger.

Leadership isn’t about proving your expertise. It’s about creating an environment where curiosity, collaboration, and continuous learning drive innovation.

Why Leaders Should Embrace Not Knowing Everything

Leadership today isn’t about barking orders from the top. The best leaders don’t claim to have all the answers—they ask the right questions and create cultures where their teams can thrive.

Think about it—do you really believe Satya Nadella, Indra Nooyi, or Jeff Bezos are experts in every single aspect of their businesses? No. What they do brilliantly is ask questions, surround themselves with smart people, and build cultures of learning.

So, how do you actually “be the dumbass” in a way that fuels success instead of undermining your leadership? Here’s how:

1. Be Curious, Not Commanding

Ask more questions than you answer. Instead of dictating solutions, lead with curiosity and let your team rise to the challenge.

Try these in your next meeting:

• “What do you think is the best way to approach this?”
• “How would you solve this if there were no constraints?”
• “What’s a perspective we might be missing?”

This doesn’t make you look uninformed—it makes you a leader who values innovation and the collective intelligence of your team.

📌 Example: Satya Nadella transformed Microsoft by shifting from a culture of “know-it-alls” to “learn-it-alls.” His focus on curiosity helped Microsoft reclaim its dominance in the tech industry.

2. Shine a Light on Others

A great leader doesn’t need to have all the ideas—they need to create an environment where the best ideas win. That means actively listening, giving credit, and empowering people to take ownership.

📌 Example: Former PepsiCo CEO Indra Nooyi wrote personal letters to the parents of her senior executives, thanking them for raising incredible leaders. That small act of gratitude reinforced a culture of appreciation and loyalty.

3. Learn Every Day

Admit what you don’t know and embrace learning moments—big or small. When leaders model humility, it creates psychological safety where others feel empowered to take risks, speak up, and grow.

📌 Example: Jeff Bezos built Amazon by embracing failure. The Fire Phone flopped, but instead of hiding it, Bezos saw it as a learning moment that led to future successes like AWS and Alexa.

How to Apply This in Your Leadership
1️⃣ Make Questions Your Superpower
Start your next meeting by leading with a question instead of a statement. Watch what happens.

2️⃣ Build a Culture of Safe Experimentation
Encourage your team to test new ideas without fear. Celebrate the lessons learned from failures.

3️⃣ Commit to Lifelong Learning
Read books, listen to podcasts, and surround yourself with people who challenge your thinking.

Wrapping Up

Great leaders don’t have all the answers—they create the right environment so their teams can find them. By embracing curiosity, recognizing the strengths of others, and committing to continuous learning, you’ll build a culture that thrives on growth.

And speaking of learning…

I couldn’t be more excited—we’re just about a month away from the release of my new book, Any Dumb-Ass Can Do It: Learning Moments from an Everyday CEO of a Multi-Billion-Dollar Company!

Can you create a company culture where people joyfully do meaningful work with supportive, enthusiastic colleagues?

Yes—you absolutely can. And it starts with you.

In this book, I share everything I’ve learned from my time as CEO of WD-40 Company—helping you build an exceptional workplace culture based on trust, accountability, and engagement.

Preorder now and get ready to transform the way you lead!

A special shoutout to Simon Sinek for championing the power of curiosity in leadership. His message to “be the idiot” aligns perfectly with creating space for others to shine.