When Facing a Spider Feels Safer Than Asking a Stupid Question

Being willing to ask what might be a stupid question is one of your most extraordinary super powers. (Add it to your growing list!)

it is actually an important (and rare) skill to be willing to ask the “stupid” questions that everyone else is afraid to ask.?

"Stupid" questions can reveal confusion people were not aware of -- or willing to admit.

People can tell you there is no such thing as a stupid question. That may be true but sometimes we can feel stupid for asking the question.

Here's what is important to recognize: You aren't asking questions because you don't know what you're doing. You are asking questions because you DO know what you're doing.

And it is imperative to ask for the information you need in order to do your job.

Possible HM/Stakeholder responses to your question:

• That’s a stupid question.
• You should know that.
• I cannot believed you asked that/don’t know that.
• I have already covered that.
• I don’t understand why you need to know that.

?Possible recruiter responses when your HM's response is like the ones above:

• In what way is that stupid?
• Tell me more about the reason you think that.
• So could you just bottom line it for me?
• I’m not sure exactly where it will be important, but when it is, I’ll have your answer.
• This is a question your really great candidates will likely have. I would like to give them an answer in your words.

Recruiting Leaders:

• Find out if your recruiters need reassurance they won't get in trouble for asking questions. Are there other concerns that keep them from asking more questions?
• Help your recruiters identify the information they need and the questions to ask. They are simply asking for what they need to do their job, and there shouldn't be any reason for anyone to object to them doing that.
• Do not let HMs insist on just posting the job description so we "can get started right away." Asking your recruiters and sourcers to fill reqs just by posting the job description is not an effective, speedy or productive strategy.No one is particularly happy with the results and the wrong people (you and yours) bear the brunt of the blame--wrongly.

Thank you for reading.