Why?

Probably one of the most powerful questions we can ask ourselves and one another. 3 letters, or one syllable is all it takes to unlock enlightenment, understanding, empathy, sorrow, love.

It seems to be human nature to react or respond to things we don’t understand or care for with our gut response (the why here would be interesting, but for another time).

When we respond with our gut, we miss opportunities. Opportunities to learn, grow, solve a colleagues problem, lift a burden and to understand.

Why is one of the fundamental mechanics of teamwork and collaboration, without it we can’t work as a team, we’d see the world through our own biased view. Without why we can’t solve problems. Without why we can’t grow. Without why we can’t be diverse.

Don’t stop at “why?” either, ask open questions, support people when they don’t know the answer, suggest possibilities, give them time to respond later if they need space.

We’re all figuring it out, don’t for one minute think somebody isn’t, not even your CEO. The next time you have the urge to react, take a few seconds to reflect.

Sometimes people won’t know why, or there may be no reason why, or there may be many reasons why, this is ok too, we are Human After All.

As humans, we make up bigger systems of many dependencies, there’s probably a root cause, find it, don’t stop until you do.

None of this is new, but hopefully a useful reminder.