Does asking questions make you look unprofessional or, on the contrary, boost your perceived competence?
Questioning and push back are expected behaviours from someone in authority. Not doing so could lead to them being seen as weak, according to conventional wisdom.
Some people ask questions in order to coach or teach which is great if that's what they are doing.
If not, even if it looks like a question, unsolicited advice is seldom welcome.
Other people ask questions out of curiosity, interested in how others are doing something, even when they themselves are experts in that field. For an outside observer, they might seem unschooled, unprepared, or lacking experience.
Do we have to choose between constantly improving ourselves and protecting our reputation by not asking questions we are supposed to know the answer to? This might make it challenging to maintain a beginner's mind ("in the beginner's mind there are many possibilities, in the expert's mind there are few" says Shunryū Suzuki).
We all played that game when we say "I have a stupid question" only for our interlocutor to answer "There is no such thing as a stupid question. Only stupid answers."
Why this fear that our questions might make us look bad? Is it the quality of the question?
I, for one, am pretty sure not all my questions are high quality, add value to the conversation or reveal something that was perhaps missed. So why ask them?
Most questions I have for others are for my benefit: to put things in context, to understand some concept, to clarify a misunderstanding. All valid, acceptable reasons, in my opinion. Yet, on occasion, somebody will consider my questions irrelevant or think there is no need for clarification, that everything is covered and understood. Certainly, it's not my intention to waste anyone's time so I should pay more attention to my questions and, maybe, listen better.
So when is it safe to ask questions?
Are there any rules, should we get permission from someone or is there a rating system?
Are there questions that don't belong in the workplace, are too personal, inappropriate, or intrusive?
Is there an appropriate timing for asking questions? Is it OK to ask leading questions or rhetorical questions? How about hypothetical questions?
I wonder if there is a better way to ask this question? What if we change the focus and direct it towards the person we are addressing?
Asking a question might give somebody an opportunity to showcase their knowledge or might prompt an insight.
The sharp question could be phrased as if validating we didn't miss anything: Is it safe to ask a question at work if the timing is right, if it's not inappropriate, not too personal, not intended to make us look smart, not coming from a hostile place?
In short, will my question help move things forward? If yes, I think it's safe. It's more than safe, it is valuable.
Why this fear that our questions might make us look bad? Is it the quality of the question?
I, for one, am pretty sure not all my questions are high quality, add value to the conversation or reveal something that was perhaps missed. So why ask them?
Most questions I have for others are for my benefit: to put things in context, to understand some concept, to clarify a misunderstanding. All valid, acceptable reasons, in my opinion. Yet, on occasion, somebody will consider my questions irrelevant or think there is no need for clarification, that everything is covered and understood. Certainly, it's not my intention to waste anyone's time so I should pay more attention to my questions and, maybe, listen better.
So when is it safe to ask questions?
Are there any rules, should we get permission from someone or is there a rating system?
Are there questions that don't belong in the workplace, are too personal, inappropriate, or intrusive?
Is there an appropriate timing for asking questions? Is it OK to ask leading questions or rhetorical questions? How about hypothetical questions?
I wonder if there is a better way to ask this question? What if we change the focus and direct it towards the person we are addressing?
Asking a question might give somebody an opportunity to showcase their knowledge or might prompt an insight.
The sharp question could be phrased as if validating we didn't miss anything: Is it safe to ask a question at work if the timing is right, if it's not inappropriate, not too personal, not intended to make us look smart, not coming from a hostile place?
In short, will my question help move things forward? If yes, I think it's safe. It's more than safe, it is valuable.