Every Thursday we would mosey to the opposite side of the office for All Hands. Despite knowing that we’d never hear dreamy developments of big raises or better lunches, the one-hour gathering was something to relish. It meant taking a mental break from an otherwise stale afternoon.
The interim CEO announced that the company was being acquired. Coworkers to my left and right were fiddling in their seats unsure of what to feel. “We know you might all be confused so we’re going to take questions now,” the CEO yelled. The office quieted and glanced at one another, not favoring anyone in particular. Then at me, always at me. They knew I’d ask the dumbest questions again.
The question-asking started when I was a kid. “Son, you’re not very street smart,” was a phrase my dad said often. Back then, I was stunned that he could even say those words to his (arguably sharpest) son. He didn’t mean that I wouldn’t cut it in the cutthroat streets of Mesa, Arizona. He meant that I took direction too literally and often missed small social cues. I was missing important signposts in conversations that everyone but me seemed to get. He was right, but I learned to embrace naïveté after one too many jokes at my expense.
Over time, my cluelessness became less about the joke and more about my own curiosities. Though no one seemed to catch on. In my experience, feigning ignorance is associated with an aversion to learning. As it turns out, it’s the best way to learn. A good magician never reveals their secrets but this isn’t magic at all. I’m spinning this trick around to show you inside the box sawed in half. Ask the right questions to reveal all: the information you’re after and the holes hiding behind big talk and inflated pitches.
I’ve used PI (playful ignorance) at every seniority level of every job I've had. I’ve used it in client meetings, with my closest friends, and even the people I’d call my enemies. It’s now my game plan for combatting condescension by pretending to be a novice. As an added benefit, using PI regularly can teach everyone around you to break the tech speak: let’s touch base, can we circle back on that?
Back to the acquisition announcement: my teammates were in a moment of confusion and vulnerability. If you’ve ever worked an at-will job, it can feel like you could be fired at any moment. Large meetings always expose the delicacy of that arrangement. One wrong question, one misplaced comment, and you’re gone. No acquisition money acquired. It was time for PI to shine. I threw my hand up, “Why?” So vague and open-ended, it leaves everything up for interpretation. The best way to make someone with a superiority complex come back to earth is to just let them speak. “What if I quit before the deal is done?” I wasn’t planning to quit. “What do you do now?” I pointed at the CEO.
Questions like those make me feel like I’ve taken one step closer to the cliff of unemployment. Conversely, it brings everyone one step back from the same ledge. I’ve assumed all innocence so you can feel safe. Ask yourself this, when was the last time you got in trouble for a question? Not a question of authority but one of honest curiosity. Once you realize you can ask anything too, you’ll be able to wake your peers from their Silicon Valley stupor. Start simple with “Why not?” or “What’s that?” Questions a dog would ask if they could speak.
PI is a powerful tool against people you don’t like too. I’ve been in meetings with product leads that use pretense and pomp in the form of faux philosophical design thinking. You know the ones. They’ve just read the hottest new book from a Tim Ferris-wannabe and can’t wait to drown you with their current greatest idea. The only problem is that you and the engineers in the room have no idea what the PM is trying to say.
This is when you activate your PI to disarm and force them to dig deeper. “What does that mean?” They fumble over their rehearsed talking points. “Wait, I don’t get it. Can you explain it like I’m a sixth grader?” They can’t. “Oh okay, so it’s like this then,” you ask with a completely different concept of the idea. It’s over. You’ve revealed there’s not much substance behind their counterfeit TED talk and now you can steer the conversation away from bullshit and towards logic.
PI can be an invaluable tool in any environment, fostering open communication, putting others at ease, and outsmarting bullies attempting to assert dominance. The art of asking questions, whether they’re seemingly naïve or genuinely curious, can help you navigate delicate situations and create camaraderie in your workplace. Embrace your inquisitive side and never shy away from asking the questions that others might be hesitant to voice.
After all, it’s in those moments of vulnerability and transparency that we open the possibilities of understanding. Next time you find yourself in a challenging situation, remember you have a secret weapon in Playful Ignorance. All you have to do is ask.
Some cool stuff I found!
Workshop Survival (A book)
https://www.workshopsurvival.com/
I’m not a fan of workshops but this website has me convinced that it’s worth learning. The card aesthetic is a dime-a-dozen but adherence to a grid that runs through the site and the balance of color make this a delight to look at. Or maybe I’m just swayed by the author sharing the same name as me.
Everything is a Remix 2023 Edition
“I love this documentary. I first thought it was depressing to think that nothing can be completely original, but then ended up feeling like the pressure to be original was relieved and it was easier to create things.”
– My friend, Jeff McAvoy
I remember seeing Kirby Ferguson after I had dropped out of university, struggling to find a path forward. It was a pivotal video for me a decade ago and he continues to update it every year as content evolves. I know it’s an hour long, but treat this as a documentary instead of some Youtube video you’ll put on to distract yourself from your creative blocks.
LOGGGOS
Instead of buying an expensive coffee table book, you’ll never open, LOGGGOS is a digital repository for modern brands’ logos. Sort by letter, shape, industry, and color. As a plus, all of the logos I clicked were in SVG format.