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TEDxMillRiver - Peter Bregman - I Don't Know
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TEDxMillRiver - Peter Bregman - I Don't Know

The Importance of Knowing Things

In this section, the speaker talks about how knowing things or pretending to know things is important for success and achievement.

Applying to Jewish School

  • Applied to a Jewish school in fifth grade.
  • Had difficulty memorizing Hebrew words.
  • Pretended to know the word for picture during an interview.

Working as an Outward-Bound Instructor

  • Worked as an Outward-Bound instructor at National Outdoor Leadership School.
  • Answered questions with "put on a hat," "drink more water," "look at your map," and "what do you think."
  • Designed activities for 150 eighth graders during a two-day retreat.

Planning the Retreat

  • Planned out the retreat carefully, breaking up students into groups and designing activities for them.
  • Trained instructors and provided them with folders describing which children they would have and what activities they would do.

Challenges During the Retreat

  • Students did not follow instructions during activities.
  • Instructors were not able to handle their groups effectively.
  • Speaker realized that he had not prepared enough for unexpected situations.

Learning from Failure

In this section, the speaker talks about how he learned from his failure during the retreat and how it helped him become a better leader.

Reflecting on Failure

  • Realized that he had not prepared enough for unexpected situations during the retreat.
  • Felt like a failure but decided to reflect on what went wrong instead of blaming others.

Learning from Failure

  • Learned that leadership is about being responsible for everything that happens under one's watch.
  • Learned that preparation is key to handling unexpected situations effectively.
  • Learned that leaders should be willing to admit their mistakes and learn from them.

The Importance of Vulnerability

In this section, the speaker talks about how vulnerability is important for building trust and connection with others.

Being Vulnerable as a Leader

  • Leaders should be willing to show vulnerability to build trust and connection with others.
  • Sharing personal stories can help create a sense of shared experience and empathy.
  • Being vulnerable can also help leaders learn from their mistakes and improve themselves.

Overcoming Fear of Vulnerability

  • Fear of vulnerability is common but can be overcome by practicing vulnerability in small steps.
  • Leaders should create a safe space for others to share their vulnerabilities as well.

The Importance of Not Knowing

Peter Bregman shares a story about a time when he was leading a group of eighth graders and things didn't go as planned. He talks about the importance of not knowing and how it can lead to creativity and innovation.

Learning from Vulnerability

  • After things didn't go as planned, Peter walked into a room, shut the door, turned off the lights, and cried. He felt lost and vulnerable.
  • Sitting in that space of not knowing taught him an important lesson: not knowing is okay. It's painful but necessary for growth.
  • We don't ultimately know what we're doing in life, but sitting in that vulnerable place can lead to learning and growth.

Creativity from Not Knowing

  • When Peter asked for help from his team, they came up with creative ideas on the fly because they didn't know what would work.
  • Every creative and innovative idea comes out of not knowing. Knowing everything is ultimately boring.
  • The most engagement, creativity, and innovation come from not knowing things.

Leadership and Not Knowing

  • Leaders are expected to know things, but sometimes it's okay to admit that you don't know something.
  • Being vulnerable as a leader can actually inspire others to be more creative and innovative.

Overall, this talk emphasizes the importance of embracing vulnerability and uncertainty in order to foster creativity and innovation.

The Power of Not Knowing

In this section, the speaker talks about how not knowing can be a powerful tool for leaders and how it can lead to innovation and creativity.

Not Knowing as a Leadership Tool

  • The speaker discusses her experience in a diversity training where she initially had a negative reaction to being stereotyped.
  • When the trainer admitted to not knowing what was happening, the group shifted from fighting against her to working with her.
  • Research shows that great leaders are those who ask for help and create space for others to contribute ideas.
  • Innovation starts from the uncomfortable place of not knowing.

The Strength of Admitting Not Knowing

  • Admitting not knowing requires confidence, self-esteem, and strength.
  • Starting from the truth that we don't actually know can lead to better decision-making and thoughtfulness.

Overall, this section emphasizes the importance of embracing uncertainty as a leader and using it as an opportunity for growth.

The Power of Not Knowing

In this section, the speaker talks about the importance of accepting that we don't know and how innovation comes from not knowing.

Embracing Uncertainty

  • The speaker encourages us to stand in a place of uncertainty without running to shut the door.
  • Innovation comes from not knowing and having the strength to accept that we don't know.
Video description

Peter Bregman is a strategic advisor to CEOs and their leadership teams. He is the author of 18 Minutes: Find Your Focus, Master Distraction, and Get the Right Things Done and Point B: A Short Guide To Leading a Big Change. Peter is a regular contributor to Harvard Business Review, Fast Company, and Forbes, National Public Radio (NPR), Psychology Today, and CNN. In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)