We’re often taught that smart people are the ones with all the answers.
But over the years, in leadership meetings, casual huddles, and studio sessions, I’ve noticed something consistent: the smartest people rarely lead with answers.
They lead with questions.
And not the complicated kind.
They ask the most obvious ones.
“What exactly are we trying to solve?”
“Can you explain that like you would to someone completely new?”
“Why are we doing it this way?”
At first, it can feel disarming. Almost too simple.
And then, something shifts, the room slows down, and people get real.
Sometimes we all nod along, not because we fully understand, but because we don’t want to interrupt or appear unprepared.
Asking the obvious question doesn’t slow things down.
It often brings everyone closer to what actually matters.
When clarity is missing, asking the obvious question isn’t ignorance, it’s a contribution.
We live in a time where things move fast, where clarity often gets lost in the rush to keep up.
That’s why the person willing to pause, to ask what others won’t, often brings the deepest insight.
Not because they have all the answers, but because they’re not afraid to find better ones.
This week, if you find yourself in a meeting, a pitch, or a conversation that feels rushed, don’t hold back the “obvious” question.
It might just be the smartest thing you do.
Over to you:
What’s one “obvious” question you asked that helped shift a conversation, a project, or even your own perspective?
Let’s normalize asking. Drop it below 👇
Have a great Monday.
May it be filled with honest questions, clear thinking, and quiet courage