Photo by alexanderdrachmann

I was on a conference call today with two of my coworkers.  One of them, a program manager,  was asking questions about a specific contract, and the other, a contracts administrator, was giving simple yes or no answers.  The program manager finally became frustrated, and said, half-joking, “Oh, so you’ve become one of those ‘answer-the-question’ guys instead of just telling me what I need.” The statement was thought-provoking, at least to me, so I decided to take it further.

Just the facts, ma’am…

On the surface, there’s nothing wrong with just answering a question.  It’s the fastest way to convey information to someone who needs it.  But what if your answer doesn’t give the person the complete picture?  It’s been said that a little knowledge is a dangerous thing.  If someone relies on your answer to validate their own wrong assumptions, then disaster could be looming.  For example, if someone asks you where the door to the staircase is located, and you point it out, you’ve answered the question.  The person then steps through the doorway and slips on the freshly painted staircase.  Oops.  Knowing that little detail might have given the person pause, and averted disaster.

You forgot one minor detail…

But taking it further, what if you intentionally answer the question and nothing but the question?  For example,  a person asks if you’ve shut the electricity off to a circuit.  You answer, “Yes, I did.”  What you neglect to inform him is that while you did in fact shut off the electricity, you also turned it back on again.  This amounts to conveying a half-truth to the questioner.  He won’t appreciate that after he gets a shock.

What comes around…

And that’s where the problem lies for you.  Payback, and karma, are a bitch.  This can only result in some sort of retaliation from the wronged party.  You  might be written up, or have your credibility questioned.  You might even get the shit kicked out of you for being such a wise ass.

…goes around

So, whether you’re at work or at your leisure, remember to always come clean.  Give the person asking the question a complete answer, and spare no detail.  While it might be too much information, better to err on the side of caution.  You don’t need another beating.

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