I said "I don't know" and it helped

I used to think I had to have answers. As a founder, as a builder, as someone people looked to. If I didn't know something, I'd fake it. Deflect. Change the subject. Pretend.

Then last month someone asked me a question about my own roadmap and I just said "I don't know yet." Out loud. To their face.

They didn't lose respect for me. They didn't think I was incompetent. They just said "okay, let me know when you figure it out" and moved on.

I've started saying it more. "I don't know." "I haven't decided." "I'm not sure yet." It's uncomfortable every time. But it's also honest. And people seem to trust me more, not less.

Do you say "I don't know" when you don't know? Or do you fake it? And has being honest ever backfired for you?