A client asked about GDPR consent requirements for their email campaign. Legitimate interest vs. explicit consent. Whether they needed to re-consent their list.

In the past I would have given a vague answer about “getting proper consent” and hoped for the best. Instead I said: “I don’t know the specific requirements for your situation. Let me connect you with someone who specialises in this.”

Their response: “Thank you for your honesty. Our previous consultant gave us advice that nearly got us fined.”

Clients can feel when you are improvising. When you pretend to know things, you lose credibility. When you admit gaps, you build it.

Never guess about legal and compliance. Never cite statistics you can’t verify. “I don’t know how that works in healthcare, but I can find out.”

“I don’t know” alone is not enough. You need to bridge the gap. “…but I’ll find the right expert.” “…but let me research that and get back to you.”

“Won’t clients think I’m incompetent?” Only if you know nothing. If you command your core subject matter and admit gaps elsewhere, you come across as more competent.