Why You Should Embrace Being the Idiot in the Room

Picture the scene: you're in a meeting at work and you're hearing all about a new project, product or concept that you're going to have to implement or use soon. Trouble is, you don't have a clue what the speaker is talking about.

We've all been there. We've also all struggled with the question of what to do next. Do you keep your mouth shut and pretend you understand perfectly, or - to paraphrase Winston Churchill - do you open your mouth and remove all doubt about your stupidity?

If you choose to embrace being the 'idiot in the room', it could not only solve your issue of understanding in the short term, but also boost your career in the long run. Here's why.

Remember everyone is in the same boat

As soon as you fail to understand something, you might begin to question what you're even doing in that meeting or that job. But what you need to remember is that's imposter syndrome talking. It's also something even the most successful people experience sometimes.

Natalie Portman once spoke of her feelings of inadequacy, as have the likes of Tom Hanks and Maya Angelou. But rather than wallowing in them, reaching out to colleagues and sharing these feelings could be a good way to confront them and remind yourself of your worth.

It's also vital to remember that imposter syndrome doesn't affect your ability to do your job - unless you let it.

Not speaking up hinders you and the company

Keeping your mouth shut about something you don't understand might stop you from looking silly there and then, but it could come back to bite you later. Simon Sinek, the author of Start With Why and Leaders Eat Last, said in an interview that he frequently sat in meetings in which everyone nodded along with an idea. It was only after he asked a question and requested clarification that they all admitted they didn't get it either.

He pointed out that it was often only his willingness to speak up that saved companies wasting money on things they didn't understand and therefore wouldn't use.

On a personal level, reluctance to appear stupid could hinder your learning and eventually even lead to project failures.

Focus on the outcome rather than the discomfort

If putting up your hand and speaking out makes you feel uncomfortable, concentrate on what it could do for you further down the line.

Research from Harvard Business School found people who seek advice are actually perceived as more competent than those who don't, meaning you could one day get a promotion as a result of that moment of speaking up.

Pobody's nerfect

As it suggests on the popular fridge magnet we just referenced, nobody is perfect and everyone makes mistakes at some point. Feeling you didn't understand something that seems obvious might dent your confidence, but it doesn't make you any less valuable to the business.

The most important thing is that you get back up after being knocked down and learn from any errors you make. Many successful people have admitted to failing numerous times before they eventually triumphed, so you'll be in good company.

For example, Thomas Edison famously embraced his failures, while Steve Jobs overcame various setbacks before turning Apple into the tech behemoth it is today. Today's bad luck really could result in tomorrow's good fortune.

Remember it might be on them

Finally, always remember that the fault might actually lie with the person explaining the concept rather than you. Perhaps they're in a hurry and have glossed over important aspects, or they're so used to doing it that they forget others are new to the idea.

Asking for clarification might make them more accountable in future, which could benefit the organization as a whole. Your perceived stupidity is really for the greater good.

And if you find yourself frequently encountering things that are badly explained - or you often feel foolish when you know you're not a fool - then maybe it's time to think about the fundamental structures and processes used to convey this information.

Again, any changes that come about as a result of this will help the company in the long run.