For much of my life, I felt torn between my natural curiosity and the societal conditioning to race toward solutions. From school quizzes to workplace meetings, we’re rewarded for having answers, but not really for asking questions. Yet the most successful people I know aren’t the ones with all the answers; they’re the ones who ask the most insightful questions.
This is a critical shift in mindset: becoming a problem seeker rather than just a problem solver. When someone brings you a challenge, the instinct is to immediately offer solutions. But rushing to answers often means you’re solving the wrong problem altogether. There’s no such thing as the right answer to the wrong question. The real value lies in slowing down, getting curious, and making sure you’re addressing the root issue, not just the symptom.
I learned this lesson the hard way. In my early career, I prided myself on quick solutions. Clients would describe what they needed, and I’d deliver exactly that… only to find their fundamental problems remained unsolved. The turning point came when I started asking “why” like a curious child, before proposing any solution. This simple practice transformed my relationships and results. Instead of being an order-taker, I became a strategic partner who helped clients gain clarity on what they truly needed.
The next time someone brings you a problem, resist the urge to immediately solve it. Instead, get curious. Ask questions like: “What’s behind this issue?” “What would an ideal outcome look like?” “What have you tried before?” There is great value in asking the questions that lead to breakthrough insights.
What problem are you currently trying to solve that might benefit from more questions before you commit to a solution?
