We’re often ashamed to say “I don’t know” — but this professional poker player thinks it’s one of our greatest strengths:

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From a young age, society teaches us to avoid expressing uncertainty: saying “I don’t know” is a hallmark of failure and shame throughout our formative school years. But former professional poker player Annie Duke contends that admitting uncertainty reflects a more accurate understanding of reality.

While being certain may provide a false sense of security, it can close our minds to new information, hinder the fair calibration of our beliefs, and inhibit fruitful collaboration. Duke also highlights the crucial difference between confidence and certainty: while the former can be beneficial in specific contexts, like facing an opponent in poker, the latter can lead to overconfidence and hubris.

Duke argues that acknowledging uncertainty invites collaboration, as individuals actively seek out diverse opinions to form a comprehensive understanding. In contrast, certainty can limit learning and growth, potentially becoming a real obstacle to success.

Read the full video transcript: https://bigthink.com/the-well/the-pow...

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