Curiosity. It is one of humankind’s greatest tools, yet it seems to be something we, as professionals, have lost along the way. Why have we stopped asking questions? Is it to make it seem we are more knowledgeable than we are? Is it because we want others to assume we can do anything and everything? Is it because we do not want to seem like we are clueless? At what point did we discover we were experts on everything? Oh, we aren’t? Then why do we continue not to ask questions?
Everyone should be asking more questions, no matter what the context is. When we ask questions, we gain a better understanding of the subject matter and show we care enough about the material to learn more about it. Imagine you received a task from your supervisor and did not ask any follow-up questions. Not a single one. How likely would you accomplish the task in the exact way your supervisor had envisioned? It amazes me how often people go into a task blind. As a former journalist and a genuinely curious person, I gather as much information as possible when pursuing an assignment. It is not your fault if all the information needed is not provided. If there is a gap in the knowledge provided, that gap will only be fixed if questions are asked, no matter how large or small. Even if you are 95% certain, asking for confirmation to make up for that five percent can make a world of difference. There is a reason they say there are no dumb questions – because asking questions, no matter how simple, can only provide more detail for your task, not less.
Curiosity can also challenge the status quo. Why have things always been done this way? How can we improve on this process? What is the origin of this practice we have been doing for the last two decades? Who does this benefit? Why are we doing this? What is the purpose? If there is no clear answer to one or multiple of these questions, consider asking more questions until you find that answer.
Asking more questions will also help you be a better supporter of students. How can you be a better advocate without knowing more about a student or their situation? If your lived experiences differ from those of the students, then you do not understand what the student has dealt with or where their mind is. You cannot begin to understand the intersectionalities of a student’s identity if you only interact with said student based on assumptions you have. It is better to ask questions so you know who you are advocating for and supporting rather than just assuming you know and saying something inaccurate. If you do not ask, you will never know how they feel. And if you never know how they feel, how will you support that student in the way they need to be supported?
Even with the programming we provide students, we must be asking questions. If we are not asking students what they want to receive from us, we cannot be upset or surprised when they are not engaged in our programming. We must also make sure we are asking the right questions. What are you trying to measure? How can you frame your questions to give you the best answers? In what ways are you falling short in your feedback and assessment? No, I am not suggesting you frame your feedback QR code questions to give you the exact answer you are looking for. What I am saying, however, is that you should ensure the questions you pose in your feedback forms truly ask the questions you want answers to.
My organization recently began a partnership with PhiredUp, and part of this partnership provided advisors with training. As an advisor for my undergraduate chapter, I partook in this training, and one significant takeaway I had was in the third module. It was a TedTalk delivered by founder Matt Mattson that piqued my interest about how we should be more curious people. According to Mattson (2019), asking more and better questions adds more depth to our conversations, generating more detail and equating to better results. Being more curious and asking more questions will help us dive more effectively into our practice and produce the best results for ourselves and our students. Asking more questions may help you better understand the gravity of a situation for a student. The issue at hand may be the most significant thing in your student’s life right now, even if it is not the most prominent thing in your life. Asking more questions can help identify barriers that students are facing that you may not see because your lived experiences are different.
Living with the presumption that you should know the answers to every question and never have to ask questions sets you up for disappointment. We are naturally curious creatures. When we were kids, we asked so many questions to discover the meaning of everything in the world. Do you understand everything there is to know about the world? No? Then, ask more questions! You need to ask questions to get the answers. As fraternity and sorority practitioners, we should all ask more questions and gain the best understanding of any situation rather than letting our pride get in the way. We are not meant to be experts immediately, so why must we act like we have all the answers? If you do one thing today, ask someone a question. And then another. And then another. Then, see how much of a difference it makes in your day.
References
Mattson, M. (2019, April). Curiously Uncertain [Video]. TEDxDakotaRidge. https://www.ted.com/talks/matt_mattson_curiously_uncertain.
About the Author
Zach Tate is a recent graduate from the University of Mississippi, earning his Master of Arts in Higher Education/Student Personnel. Zach spent the last two years working as a graduate assistant in the Fraternity & Sorority Life office, advising both the College Panhellenic Council and the Interfraternity Council during his time in Oxford, MS. In addition to his work at Ole Miss, Zach has volunteered for his organization, Theta Xi, in several capacities over the years, including as a District Director for Recruitment, as a Chapter Advisor, and as a member of the Grand Lodge. Zach is spending the remainder of 2024 on deployment in the Middle East. He is excited to return and offer his skillset to any headquarters or campus that could benefit from a diligent, curious, and persistent team player with a passion for fraternity and sorority.
