Fire Up Your Communications at Work
If You Don’t Know What’s Going On, Ask
One of the hardest parts of any job is feeling like you are missing critical data you need. Sometimes that data is product and service related, and other times it is personnel related. If you are in a situation where you don’t know the guidelines, you don’t understand the dynamics or ramifications of a decision, or you are not sure of the politics around a given issue, ask someone wise whom you trust, preferably someone higher up.
Explain that you sense there might be something more to a given issue, and that you would like the history of it. Ask if they would be willing to share their perspective. Then make your decision from a more informed viewpoint.
There are politics in every job, in every workplace. Some are minor and insignificant, others are insidious and, unfortunately, critical to your success.
Diplomacy and tact are key in every workplace, and thinking rather than reacting will serve you well. It can be time consuming to flesh out all the dimensions of a given situation, but it may well be worth it if you want to be successful, get promoted, and create greater results. When in doubt, ask. This kind of communication discipline is a core element of executive presence, especially in complex workplaces.
It is far better than assuming, which can frequently get you in trouble. Knowledge is power.
Why Asking Is Harder Than It Sounds
Most people hesitate to ask precisely when they need to most. Asking can feel like admitting you are behind, and in a high-visibility role that feels risky. But the leaders who ask well are not showing weakness. They are protecting themselves and their teams from decisions made on incomplete information, which is a far more costly mistake than a moment of appearing uninformed.
The other half of this skill is just as important as the asking: genuinely listening to the answer. Being truly listened to is rare, which means being a genuine listener is one of the fastest ways to build trust with the person you are asking. Give your full attention, resist the urge to plan your response while they are still talking, and let there be a pause before you reply.
Key Takeaways
- When you sense there is more to a situation than you understand, ask someone you trust for the history and context before you decide.
- Asking is not a sign of weakness. Deciding on incomplete information is the more costly mistake.
- Listening fully, without planning your next response, is what makes the answer you get actually useful.
- Diplomacy and thinking before reacting protect your credibility in workplace politics, which exist at every level of every organization.
This kind of situational awareness is one piece of a larger communication skill set. For the full framework, see Communication and Executive Presence, or explore leadership resilience coaching if navigating workplace dynamics is a recurring challenge in your role.
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