This comment from Chris made me giggle, mostly because it brought back memories of conversations going back millions of years when I was working as a dev, and teaching myself to code on the job. There were so many situations (including board meetings) where I would bluff my way through so that I didn’t have to admit the things I didn’t understand. I wish I’d just had the courage to ask.
I’ve changed a lot since then. These days I tend to throw my cards on the table – I think we all learn from each other if we’re willing to be vulnerable – for every question someone asks, many people learn.
This article about team dynamics and safety is an interesting read: What Google Learned From Its Quest to Build the Perfect Team
Edit: It’s probably notable that I got that article from Dan Szuc’s Make Meaningful Work session, of which vulnerability is a theme.
I started this rambling discussion for a couple of reasons. Firstly, to remind you that we started this community to create a space that we hope is safe and nurturing enough that you feel comfortable asking what might feel like ‘stupid questions’. We want to build a place where we support and encourage each other while we learn.
I also thought it would be valuable to share our experiences.