Ask the Question, Even If It Feels Stupid

Read the French version
I’ve seen this happen too many times. Someone hesitates, unsure about something, but instead of asking, they think: If I ask, I’ll look stupid. So they stay silent. They nod along, pretending they understand… and later, they end up doing the exact opposite of what was expected.

And that’s when panic sets in. You scramble for excuses. You try to piece things together. But deep down, you know. You know that all of this could have been avoided with just one simple question, a small clarification. Because it’s better to look foolish for a second than to actually be foolish when you realize you got everything wrong.

A Lesson I Learned the Hard Way

I once had a meeting with a client. He wanted my help with the launch strategy for his product (I’ll keep the name confidential). The conversation went smoothly, everything felt clear, and I left feeling confident, ready to deliver high-quality work.

So, I got to work. I went all in. I structured a complete campaign, defined communication channels, built a detailed action plan… the whole thing.

And then, when it was time to present my work, reality hit me like a brick wall: he didn’t want a full campaign — he just wanted a high-level presentation of ideas.

The worst part? I had doubts during our conversation. I had questions in my mind: Does he want a broad vision or a detailed plan? Does he already have a team to execute the strategy? But I didn’t ask. Why? Because the meeting had gone so well, and more importantly… I was afraid of looking like a beginner.

The result? I wasted a huge amount of time on unnecessary work. A simple question could have saved me from all that effort.

Don’t Let This Happen to You

What makes this worse is that you won’t always deal with kind people. Some will explain things again and help you out. But others? They’re just waiting for you to mess up. They’ll use your silence as a weapon against you. You’ve seen these people before — those who smirk when you make a mistake and say, But I told you already… or You should have asked…. They thrive on turning your lack of clarity into their advantage. And by then, it’s too late.

So ask the question. Always. And don’t stop there. Make sure you have proof — an email, a message, a screenshot. Because memories fade. Words disappear. But written evidence remains.

Don’t make the same mistake I did. I already learned this the hard way. You? Just take the advice.

💬 Have you ever regretted not asking a question? Share your story in the comments — it might help someone else!