Fundamental 11: When in doubt, admit it.

11) When in doubt, admit it. Be truthful about your own skills and abilities. Take responsibility for informing others when you need additional support and training.

Most of us have had the experience of pretending we know something that we do not. Usually we do this when we do not want to draw attention to ourselves. Unfortunately little fibs or exaggerations can get people in real trouble. When we do not understand what is being said or done, or what is being asked of us we must admit it. And we must ask for help.

For Example...
Roger has been invited to serve on the Citizens Advisory Board of the Hemophilia Treatment Center. He is an experienced consumer advocate and has been very involved in mobilizing people with hemophilia to advocate for changes in public health policy. He is widely regarded as the most effective spokesperson for people with hemophilia in his region.

Roger is honored to be invited to serve on the board. Not only is it his first experience on a board, he is also the first consumer to be asked to participate in such a formal capacity. Roger carefully reads the packet of materials he receives before his first meeting in order to be well prepared. He is not prepared, however, for the way the meeting is conducted.

The board president runs the meeting in a very structured way. It is unlike any meeting Roger has ever attended — and very different from the casual give-and-take of the meetings of his advocacy group. Roger does not say one word during the meeting. He is thoroughly intimidated and does not want to make a fool of himself. When the meeting adjourns, Roger approaches the president and explains his confusion. The president says that the meeting is conducted according to a set of formal procedures called Robert's Rules of Order. She gives Roger a pamphlet that explains the vocabulary and the process. And invites him to ask her any questions he might have about the meeting format. She assures him that following Robert's Rules can be a challenge for many of the board members and encourages him to speak up at meetings even if he is unsure of the exact procedure.

Even though Roger was embarrassed to admit his lack of knowledge, he realized that he would be completely ineffective unless he had the tools and understanding to participate in the meeting. When consumers encounter these kinds of situations they must remember that people look to them for their expertise in being consumers. They do not expect them to be experts in other fields. It is fine to ask questions. If you are asked to do something that is too difficult, admit it and ask for help. Consumers make their best contributions when they are fully-engaged participants. Therefore, be truthful about your skills and abilities and ask for additional support when you need it. It will ensure that you get what you need to do your very best job.