Embrace Your Ignorance

Why “Not Knowing” Makes You Better at Networking

When Dean and I first started building SagePresence, my role was clear:

I was responsible for business development.

That meant getting out there, meeting people, and building relationships.

There was just one problem.

I was terrible at networking.

The Story I Told Myself

I thought something was wrong with me.

I told myself:

• I’m too introverted
• I’m too shy
• I’m just awkward in these situations

I’d walk into a room full of people, see conversations happening everywhere, and assume everyone else knew what they were doing.

Meanwhile, I felt stuck.

And when I did get into a conversation, the voice in my head was so loud — telling me I didn’t know what to say — that I couldn’t even hear the other person.

In networking coaching and business development training, this is more common than you might think.

The Breakthrough: It Wasn’t About Me

Eventually, something shifted.

I realized that the same principles we teach in presentations apply to networking.

Instead of focusing on myself, I started focusing on the other person.

Instead of worrying about what I didn’t know, I started appreciating what I could learn.

That changed everything.

In leadership presence coaching and business speaking, this shift — from self-focus to audience-focus — is foundational.

Embrace What You Don’t Know

Here’s the key idea:

Your lack of knowledge is not a weakness. It’s an asset.

When you stop trying to hide what you don’t know, you can start asking better questions.

Simple questions like:

• “That’s really interesting — can you tell me more about that?”
• “I’m not familiar with that — how does it work?”
• “What does that mean in practice?”

In business development communication training and networking skills development, these questions are powerful.

They show curiosity. They show engagement. They show respect.

Why This Works So Well

When you ask genuine questions:

• You make the other person feel heard
• You give them space to share what they know
• You create a more natural, human conversation

And here’s something most people don’t realize:

You’re helping them, too.

You’re giving them the opportunity to explain their work clearly.

You’re helping them translate their expertise to someone outside their world.

In networking training and professional communication, that’s incredibly valuable.

From Fear to Fascination

The real shift is this:

Move from fear of not knowing…

To fascination with what you can learn.

There is an enormous amount of knowledge in the world.

Industries, roles, ideas, experiences you’ve never encountered.

When you embrace that gap instead of fearing it, conversations become easier — and more interesting.

Let the Questions Come Naturally

When you’re genuinely curious, questions start to form on their own.

You don’t have to force them.

You don’t have to script them.

They just come.

In AEC interview preparation, sales conversations, and everyday networking, this creates confident presence without trying to “perform.”

Try This Approach

The next time you’re in a networking situation:

• Let go of the need to know everything
• Focus on the other person
• Ask simple, genuine questions

Embrace your ignorance.

Let curiosity lead.

And watch how much more natural — and effective — your conversations become.