Yesterday we talked about saying "I don't know." Today, let's talk about what happens when you don't.

A leader who pretends to have all the answers sets a standard. Not the one they intend. The crew doesn't see confidence. They see the expectation. Don't ask questions. Don't admit you're unsure. Just figure it out and keep moving.

That standard spreads. The apprentice who doesn't understand the procedure stays quiet. The journeyman who spots a hazard second-guesses himself. The entire crew operates on assumptions instead of communication.

The cost isn't always obvious. It doesn't show up as a single incident. It shows up as silence. Silence in the tailboard. Silence on the radio. Silence when someone sees something that doesn't look right.

And silence, in this industry, is where people get hurt.

Before your first task today: Think about your crew's last tailboard. Was there silence where there should have been questions? If so, that's your signal. The culture is telling you something. Name it.

— Lito Wilkins