The Question You Don't Fully Know the Answer To
Your boss asks: "How long will this project take?"
You have no idea. Could be two weeks. Could be six.
But you can't say:
- "Umm, I'm not really sure..."
- "Maybe like... two weeks? Or more?"
- "I honestly have no clue"
Because sounding uncertain makes you look:
- Inexperienced
- Unprepared
- Unreliable
- Like you don't know your own work
But you're NOT certain. What do you do?
The answer: Learn to communicate uncertainty WITH confidence.
The Problem With Sounding Uncertain
It Destroys Credibility Instantly
Uncertain language:
- "I think... maybe..."
- "I'm not really sure but..."
- "This might be wrong but..."
- "I don't know if this makes sense..."
What they hear: "Don't listen to me. I don't trust my own judgment. I'm probably wrong."
Even if your answer is 80% correct, uncertain delivery makes people doubt the 80% you DO know.
It Makes People Lose Confidence in You
When you sound uncertain:
- They won't trust your judgment next time
- They'll check your work more heavily
- They'll ask someone else instead
- You'll be excluded from important decisions
People promote confidence, not competence they can't see.
But False Certainty Is Worse
Don't confuse confidence with lying:
❌ "This will take exactly 2 weeks" (when you don't know) → Looks confident until you're wrong → Then you look incompetent AND dishonest
The goal isn't to fake certainty. It's to communicate uncertainty PROFESSIONALLY.
How Professionals Handle Uncertainty
They Give Ranges, Not Guesses
Amateur: "Maybe... three weeks?"
Professional: "2-4 weeks depending on API integration complexity"
Why this works:
- Acknowledges uncertainty (honest)
- Shows you've thought about variables (competent)
- Gives them planning information (useful)
- Sounds confident (delivery)
They Show Their Reasoning
Amateur: "I think we should go with Option B"
Professional: "Based on last quarter's data, Option B performed 30% better. Recommend we go with that unless there's new information I'm missing."
Why this works:
- They can see your logic
- You're not claiming omniscience
- You're inviting correction if you're wrong
- Sounds confident because you showed your work
They Quantify Their Confidence
Amateur: "This should work... I think"
Professional: "I'm 80% confident this will work. The 20% risk is if [specific factor]."
Why this works:
- Honest about uncertainty
- Specific about what you don't know
- Shows you've thought about risks
- Still sounds like you know what you're doing
The Language of Confident Uncertainty
Replace Wishy-Washy Words
| ❌ UNCERTAIN | ✅ CONFIDENT |
|---|---|
| "I think maybe..." | "My assessment is..." |
| "I'm not sure but..." | "Based on what I know..." |
| "This might be wrong..." | "This assumes [X]..." |
| "I don't really know..." | "I don't have that data, but I can estimate..." |
| "Probably?" | "Likely, because..." |
| "I guess..." | "My best estimate is..." |
Notice: The confident versions don't claim perfect knowledge. They just sound more professional.
Use Qualifiers That Sound Professional
✅ GOOD Qualifiers (Sound Professional)
- "Based on current data..."
- "Assuming [X] stays constant..."
- "With the information available..."
- "Historically, this has been..."
- "My best estimate given [constraint]..."
❌ BAD Qualifiers (Sound Uncertain)
- "I'm not 100% sure but..."
- "I could be totally wrong but..."
- "This is just a guess but..."
- "Don't quote me on this but..."
The difference:
- Good qualifiers explain WHY you're not certain
- Bad qualifiers apologize FOR being uncertain
How to Give Estimates You Don't Actually Know
The 3-Part Estimate
- Best case (everything goes right)
- Likely case (normal conditions)
- Worst case (what could go wrong)
Example:
Timeline estimate for API integration:
- Best case: 1 week if API docs are accurate and no auth issues
- Most likely: 2-3 weeks with normal debugging
- Worst case: 4+ weeks if we hit undocumented limitations
Recommend planning for 3 weeks.
Why this works:
- Shows you've thought about variables
- Gives them planning options
- Covers your ass if things go wrong
- Sounds strategic, not uncertain
The "Based On..." Frame
Never give an estimate without grounding it in something:
❌ "This will cost about $10K"
✅ "Based on last project's numbers, I estimate $10-12K"
✅ "Extrapolating from Phase 1, looking at $10K range"
✅ "Industry standard for this is $8-15K; we'll likely be around $10K"
Why this works:
- Shows you didn't pull numbers from thin air
- They can evaluate your reasoning
- Sounds researched, not guessed
Real Examples: Before and After
Scenario: Boss Asks How Long a Task Will Take
❌ UNCERTAIN VERSION
Um, I'm not really sure. Maybe like... two weeks? It depends on a lot of things. I haven't really done this exact thing before, so I'm kind of guessing. It could be longer if we run into issues. I don't know, what do you think?
What's wrong:
- Filler words ("um," "like")
- Hedging without reason ("kind of guessing")
- Asks them to decide for you
- Sounds completely unprepared
✅ CONFIDENT VERSION
Based on similar features we've built, I estimate 2-3 weeks:
- Week 1: Core implementation
- Week 2: Integration testing
- Week 3: Buffer for unexpected issues
The main variable is [specific thing]. If that takes longer, we'd need to adjust. Want me to start and update you at the 1-week mark?
What's right:
- Gives range with reasoning
- Shows you've broken it down
- Names the specific uncertainty
- Sounds prepared and professional
Scenario: Client Asks If Something Is Possible
❌ UNCERTAIN VERSION
Hmm, I'm not sure if we can do that. I mean, maybe? I'd have to check with the dev team. It might be possible but I don't really know without looking into it more. What do you think?
What's wrong:
- No useful information
- Passes buck to "dev team"
- Asks CLIENT what they think (they don't know, that's why they asked)
✅ CONFIDENT VERSION
I haven't built that exact feature before, but I don't see technical blockers. Let me validate with the team and get back to you by end of day with a confident yes/no and timeline estimate.
What's right:
- Honest about not knowing
- Sounds competent anyway
- Gives clear next steps
- Sets timeline for follow-up
Advanced Techniques
The "I'm 80% Sure" Method
When to use: You have a strong hunch but aren't positive.
How to say it:
I'm about 80% confident this is the right approach. The 20% uncertainty is [specific factor]. If you need more certainty, I can research [X], but that will take [time].
Why this works:
- Quantifies your confidence
- Names what you don't know
- Offers path to more certainty
- Sounds strategic
The "Based on What I Know" Caveat
When to use: You might be missing key information.
How to say it:
Based on what I know about the client requirements, I'd recommend Option B. If there are budget or timeline constraints I'm not aware of, that might change the recommendation.
Why this works:
- Grounds recommendation in available info
- Acknowledges potential gaps
- Invites them to fill in missing pieces
- Doesn't sound wishy-washy
The "Let Me Validate That" Technique
When to use: You're asked something you genuinely don't know.
DON'T say: "I don't know"
DO say: "Let me validate that and get back to you by [time]"
Why this works:
- Doesn't fake knowledge you don't have
- Sounds proactive, not ignorant
- Sets expectation for follow-up
When to Admit You Don't Know
It's OK to Say "I Don't Know" When:
-
They're asking about something outside your domain
- "That's outside my area—[person] would know better"
-
Getting it wrong would be worse than admitting ignorance
- "I don't know the exact regulation on that. Let me find out so I don't give you bad info."
-
You can immediately offer to find out
- "I don't have that data with me. Can I pull it and send it over this afternoon?"
The key: Pair "I don't know" with action, not apology.
NEVER Say "I Don't Know" Like This:
❌ "I don't know, sorry" ❌ "No idea" ❌ "I have no clue" ❌ "I don't really know anything about that"
These make you sound incompetent.
The 4 Tests for Confident Communication
Before answering, check:
1. SIGNAL: Am I giving them useful information?
Even if uncertain, are you giving them something to work with?
2. OPPORTUNITY: Am I showing my expertise?
Are you demonstrating how you think through problems?
3. RISK: Am I hedging too much?
Are you undermining yourself with excessive qualifiers?
4. AFFECT: Do I sound competent?
Would YOU trust someone who talked like this?
Practice: Reframe These Uncertain Statements
Before: "I think maybe we should do A?"
After: "I recommend A based on [reason]. Open to B if there's a factor I'm not considering."
Before: "I'm not sure this will work..."
After: "This approach worked in [context]. Main risk is [X]—we can mitigate by [Y]."
Before: "I don't really know how long it'll take"
After: "Similar projects took 3-4 weeks. This one has [complexity], so estimating 4-5 weeks to be safe."
Before: "I could be wrong but..."
After: "Based on my analysis, [conclusion]. If you see it differently, let me know what I'm missing."
Check Your Message Before Sending
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- SIGNAL (Is your message clear?)
- OPPORTUNITY (Are you showing competence?)
- RISK (Are you hedging too much?)
- AFFECT (Do you sound confident?)
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Related Reading
- The One Sentence That Makes You Sound Unprofessional
- How to Disagree With Your Boss Without Getting Fired
- The Wrong Way to Say No Professionally
About 4Angles: We analyze your writing from 4 psychological perspectives (Signal, Opportunity, Risk, Affect) to help you communicate with confidence. Free analysis available at 4angles.com.
Last Updated: 2025-10-28