Kids are the greatest. They are these tiny little humans who are so weird and funny and curious. What I admire most about kids is the amount of questions they ask…
What is that? Why is it there? What does it do? Why is it that colour?
They ask about everything and anything that comes to their pure little minds – and they do this with no hesitation. They need answers so they ask. They are in constant need to question everything around them and they do it unapologetically. Kids aren’t afraid that they might sound stupid, they aren’t afraid that their question might bother the person they are asking. And they certainly aren’t worried about a bruised ego.
But as time goes on, asking questions goes from something we do all the time to something we start holding back. It goes from something we do unapologetically, to something we apologize for. Just a few weeks ago one of my co-workers had a question for me about why we were doing something a certain way instead of a way she thought would be better, so I encouraged her to ask our boss. Her response, “Well I know he knows more than me so I’m sure the way we are doing it is the right way.”
But what if we weren’t doing it the best way? What if her perspective provided a new light that no one had thought of? Or what if she learned the exact reason why it was done that way, so in the future she could make a more educated decision? When we hold ourselves back from asking questions we hold ourselves back from learning.
Know that asking questions is not something that makes you look weak or incompetent.
To those who feel uncomfortable asking certain questions, why not try a different approach? Consider asking the question and explaining the reason why you are asking it. Often times, when I feel like I am really prodding, and possibly crossing boundaries by asking numerous questions regarding why my decision was over ruled – I tell my manager the reason I am asking. I let them know that I am asking not to question their decision but to understand their mentality so I can make similar decisions in the future.
And while you consider everything I have just said, remember that doing your own research and having an understanding of what you are doing is equally as important. It’s not about asking questions that you know the answer to, or very well could/should know the answer to. It’s about having the confidence to ask for help. It’s about presenting ideas you want to see happen and asking whether it’s feasible. It’s about questioning whether there is a better or more efficient way of doing something. It’s about wanting to be where someone else is and asking them how they got there. It’s about asking your manager for feedback and learning about ways you can improve. It’s about asking, asking, asking and learning, learning, learning!
So what questions have you been longing to ask?
Sara
