Asking questions the right way

Asking questions is not a courtesy; it is a core skill that determines whether a project flies or flops. A well-chosen question surfaces hidden assumptions, clarifies scope, and forces the team to confront the real problem instead of chasing symptoms. The article warns against the XY problem, where focus on a presumed solution blinds you to the underlying issue, and stresses that the right question can cut weeks of wasted effort.

Before you ask, do the legwork: search error codes, break complex issues into sub-problems, and read niche blogs or forums. When you finally frame the question, include what you already know, what you tried, and the exact point where you are stuck. Choose the appropriate responder-team Slack for code bugs, a colleague with domain expertise for design questions, or a vendor contact for third-party API failures-and respect their time by being concise and specific.

The piece also offers practical etiquette: drop empty greetings, avoid unscheduled calls, and give clear expectations for call length and purpose. By treating each inquiry as a brief, data-rich exchange, you build trust, reduce friction, and create a culture where asking-even seemingly "stupid"-questions is seen as a path to collective learning and faster delivery.