I love when I get the opportunity to babysit my granddaughter!  Watching her explore the world and learn new things is as exciting for me as it is for her.  Everything, right now, is “What’s that!?”  Having been through this stage with my own four children, I know that the next stage is the “Why?” stage.  Every new thing will be countered with a question of “Why?” so that she’ll be able to understand it and fit it into her schema of the world.

Asking “Why?” is critical, isn’t it?  From the time we’re able to utter the words, that question helps us get to the root, figure out if it makes sense and then, if it doesn’t make sense, figure out how it can.  But. somewhere down the line as adults, we quit asking the question and just accept things as they are  (I think that’s where the phrase “it is what it is” spurs from).

Why do we quit asking why?  We’re conditioned to quit asking, aren’t we?  Not overtly, but through the deflecting of the answer by those who don’t know how to answer.

We get deflected to the higher authority.

Q:  Why is the sky blue?

A:  Because that’s the way God made it.

We get deflected to the power authority.

Q:  Why can’t I wear that?

A:  Because I said so and I’m your Father.

We get deflected to no authority.

Q:  If spitting is gross, why do you kiss mommy?

A:  How would you like a puppy?

 

We, as leaders, need to embrace the “Why?” if we are going to spur our teams to something greater than the status quo.  We need to continually ask “Why?” in two fashions:

1. Why is this like it is?

2. Why  can’t we do it different?

If it isn’t immoral, illegal, or costly…why not try asking why and do something different?

“Why?” is at the heart of innovation and the future belongs to those that can put aside the status quo and embrace it.  Don’t deflect as a leader.  Ask the question and push forward.