Ever sat in a meeting where everyone nodded in agreement, but months later, you’re left wondering—could we have done it better? Could we have done it faster?
It happens more often than we’d like to admit. And the culprit? Assumptions.
We assume the plan is perfect. We assume we’ve thought through all the options. We assume that the way things are is the way they should be.
But what if we didn’t?
What if, instead of blindly following the plan, we asked, “What if?”
The Trap of “That’s How It’s Done”
In most workplaces, the phrase “That’s how it’s always been done” is the biggest killer of innovation. People follow the rules. They stick to the script. And they never ask, “Why are we doing it this way?”
It’s easy to fall into this trap. After all, questioning the status quo can feel risky. What if you look stupid? What if you slow things down? What if your idea isn’t any better?
But here’s the truth: Not asking those questions is the real risk.
Look around at the companies changing the world. They don’t settle for “that’s how it’s done.” They challenge their assumptions. They ask tough questions. They ask, “What if?”
The “What If” That Changed Everything
Let’s imagine a simple scenario.
Your team’s working on a big project. The deadline’s tight. Progress is slow. Everyone’s stressed. But instead of stepping back and reevaluating, you keep pushing forward. Because, well, that’s the plan.
Now, what if someone on the team raised their hand and said, “What if we try a different approach? What if there’s a quicker, smarter way to hit this deadline?”
Suddenly, the room shifts. The original plan doesn’t seem so set in stone anymore. People start bouncing ideas off each other. New solutions emerge. Maybe you cut out unnecessary steps. Maybe you automate part of the process. Maybe you assign tasks differently.
All because someone asked, “What if?”
Why Smart Teams Ask Questions
The best teams aren’t the ones with all the answers. They’re the ones that never stop asking questions.
They create a space where it’s okay to challenge ideas—even the boss’s ideas. They don’t shut down curiosity; they reward it. And they know that every assumption should be questioned because every assumption could be wrong.
When you build this kind of environment, magic happens.
Innovation thrives. Problems get solved faster. And progress speeds up.
It’s not about asking questions for the sake of it. It’s about getting to the best possible answer, even if it means admitting that the original plan wasn’t the best one.
Challenge Your Own Thinking
Think about your own work. When was the last time you questioned your assumptions? When was the last time you looked at a project and asked, “Is there a better way?”
If it’s been a while, you’re not alone. Most of us get comfortable following the plan, trusting the process, and avoiding disruption. But if you want to get better—if you want your team, your company, your results to get better—you need to start questioning the way things are done.
The next time you’re in a meeting, resist the urge to nod along. Instead, ask “Why?” or “What if?”
Because the moment you start challenging assumptions, you open the door to possibilities. And that’s where the real breakthroughs happen.
