Early in my career, I worked with a European manager whose approach baffled me. He questioned everything—every step, every decision, every assumption. At first, it felt exhausting. Why couldn’t he just trust the process like most managers did?

But as I got to know him, I learned something surprising. He wasn’t born rich or educated in top schools. He started selling food on the streets and, with hard work and smart choices, he grew into a successful businessman.

That’s when it hit me—his constant questioning wasn’t about micromanagement. It was about clarity. Purpose. Precision. And it completely changed how I approached leadership.

The Importance of Asking “Why”

Before working with him, I never really questioned the way I did things. Like many people, I just focused on getting the work done. But my manager always wanted to understand everything, which made me think. I started asking myself, “Why am I doing this?”

At first, asking “why” felt difficult. It made me slow down, change my plans, and question things I had always done. But soon, I realized it wasn’t a problem—it helped me get better. It made me think smarter, improve my skills, and understand the bigger picture, not just small tasks.

One time, I worked on a marketing plan that looked good at first. But when I asked “why,” I found mistakes in how we were choosing our audience. If we had continued without checking, we might have wasted time and money. Fixing it early helped make the plan more successful.

The “Why” Mindset in Leadership

A great leader helps their team think, explore new ideas, and understand the purpose behind their work. Instead of just giving orders, they encourage asking “why” to find better solutions. When people understand their work’s purpose, they feel more excited and dedicated to doing it well.

A team that asks “why” works with more understanding and responsibility. Instead of just following orders, they look for better ways to do things. This helps them keep learning and coming up with new ideas.

Why Skills Become Secondary When Purpose is Clear

I learned that having skills isn’t enough to succeed—you also need a clear purpose. Understanding the goal helps a team work better and smarter. Even talented people can have trouble if they don’t see the bigger picture.

Successful companies focus on their big goal and purpose. When employees believe in that goal, they don’t just work for money—they work because they care. This kind of motivation is even more powerful than just having skills.

Applying the “Why” Principle to Career Decisions

Asking “why” isn’t just important for teams—it also helps in personal growth. When I started using this idea in my own career choices, it changed how I looked at new opportunities and made better decisions.

Instead of only thinking about job titles or pay, I started asking myself:

• Why do I want this role?
• Why does this company’s mission align with my values?
• Why will this experience help me grow?

Understanding myself helped me choose jobs that made me happy, not just rich. I focused on what I enjoy and do well, instead of following the crowd.

Asking “why” changed how I work, lead, and make choices. I learned that great leaders don’t just follow rules—they try to understand things better. When we ask “why,” we find smarter solutions, avoid mistakes, and do more meaningful work.

This idea isn’t just for work, it helps in life, too. Skills are important, but having a clear purpose makes us more successful and happy. When we know why we’re doing something, we don’t just work—we grow, improve, and make a bigger impact.

So next time you have to make a choice, stop and ask yourself: Why am I doing this? You might learn something new!

Can you think of a time when asking “why” helped you make a better choice? Share your story!