New Delhi, March 24 -- Satya Nadella used this phrase, "Don't be a know-it-all; be a learn-it-all," shortly after becoming Microsoft's Chief Executive Officer in 2014. He said it during internal company meetings and later repeated it publicly at events, including a 2015 Microsoft employee town hall in Redmond, Washington. The line reflects his emphasis on a "growth mindset," inspired by the work of Stanford psychologist Carol Dweck.

The phrase contrasts two approaches to knowledge. A "know‑it‑all" assumes they already have the answers, which can discourage collaboration and innovation. A "learn‑it‑all," by contrast, values curiosity and continuous learning, recognizing that expertise must evolve in a fast‑ch...