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There is no such thing as stupid questions… only stupid answers.
I was introduced to this phrase by an old boss and mentor, Stephen Prendergast, earlier in my career whilst working in a more business operations type role at Aol.
On more than one occasion, whilst leading ‘live’ operations or launching new products, issues occurred when the team, me included, failed to ask that ‘one’ question that could’ve averted disaster. More often than not it was because we felt that the question or task was so obvious, that it had already been thought of or dealt with.
For me, it comes down to accountability and responsibility. As a team and as a leader it is your responsibility to be accountable for all aspects of the success or failure of your product.
Ask questions, and seek the truth.
We all know this is true, but it’s still hard to remember sometimes. Every question you have, every concern, every worry is an opportunity for growth. At times being able to find value in any situation can be incredibly difficult, but just remember that the best lessons are often learned from mistakes.
If you don’t understand something, ask questions. Don’t pretend like you understand when you don’t. We all like to think we know everything about everything, but the truth is that we’re all just trying to figure it out as we go.
