Questions...
The last few weeks seem to have been filled with Questions. Ever have one of those times when you seem to spend more time answering questions then actually doing your work? Everything from Email help (that is usually Microsoft help UGH!, don't you wish you could send them an invoice for your time?), to my website is not working. Sometimes being the 'web guys' for your family, friends or clients can be a pain... (I can almost see the family computer experts & IT people nodding in empathy). Quite often the problem has nothing to do with the service you provide, but you get a very cranky person on the other end of the phone, because they have wasted a heap of time mucking around with the software or computer so by the time they phone you they are pretty narky. When they should have just asked for advice in the first or second instance...
The worst thing about this scenario is that it needn't occur! Asking questions does not suddenly make you stupid, or make people think that you are not professional? Adults in particular often seem to have a major problem with asking basic questions, Men (not all, though a LOT) in particular seem to be the worst! If anyone can answer why some males find it impossible to read an instruction manual, or open up that referdex you are very wise indeed LOL!
No-one can be an expert in everything! I really can't comprehend how some people can go through life never asking questions, always pretending (to themselves & others) that they know it all. On the other hand, we had a lovely young lady in here for a week called Kaitlyn (which got a tad confusing when our daughter is Caitlin too LOL), who was here on work experience, she asked hundreds of questions. I was not expecting much help from a work experience person, as obviously we use our own software and that can be is a pretty big learning curve, yet, to my pleasant surprise, she was powering away doing 'real' work by midday on her first day here! Just because she asked questions, made sure she was clear in her mind about what she was doing, and was unafraid to learn something new. Gee I missed her help after the week was over...
A very smart person once said "The only dumb Question is the one you DON'T Ask"! In our industry (IT) in particular there is a lot of free advice out there, use it, you never know what you might learn :)
Cheers,
Noely, Community Site Coordinator