Are you asking the wrong question?

There is such a thing as wrong questions:

They are the kind that lead us down unhelpful paths and often presume things to be true that are not.

Consider the seemingly harmless question: “How do I solve this problem?”

That’s the right question if, indeed, there is a problem.

But what if there isn’t a problem or at least it’s not as big of an issue as you’re leading yourself to believe? Well, it’s far less useful then because it presumes that something needs fixing when it doesn’t and if you’re not careful you will spend a lot of your energy on something that by all accounts isn’t worth it.

Early in my career, my response to a manager’s question was the definition of overkill: I spent over a week preparing a detailed report & PowerPoint when in reality all she needed and wanted was a one-sentence response.

Better uses of your energy start with asking higher-quality questions. Higher-quality questions start with being critical and careful of your assumptions.