When the Click Happened: The Day I Asked Anyway

A colleague once asked me, “How are you so comfortable asking questions? How do you speak your mind so easily?”

It took me back to a moment years ago, when I worked in a fast-paced organization. It was month-end kind of day where documents flew across desks, inboxes pinged non-stop, and pressure buzzed in the air.

I was asked to submit a document I had never worked on before, with no prior format. No reference. No clarity. But like always, I submitted it before time, hoping I’d done it right.

Soon, the feedback loop began. Changes were suggested, but through emails that only seemed to add more confusion. The thread grew longer, and so did my anxiety.

Finally, instead of trying to decode expectations, I picked up the phone and called my higher-up. That one conversation, short, direct, and kind, cleared every doubt. I completed the document confidently. No drama, just clarity.

Looking back, I realise how lucky I was. My mentors never made me feel unintelligent for asking questions. They didn’t use silence as punishment. They created a space that was safe to explore, experiment, and get things wrong, without shame.

That experience taught me something powerful: A non-judgmental space doesn’t only belong in therapy.

We all deserve environments where questions are welcome, mistakes are part of learning, and growth is celebrated.

Let’s build spaces like that not just for clients, but for each other.

 Do people around you feel safe to not know something? If not, how can you help change that?