Growing up, I was super inquisitive. I always needed explanations. 
“Why is the sky blue? Why does my hair grow so coily? Why can’t I have sleepovers like my friends?” I would ask. Sometimes, I’d get an actual answer. Other times, I’d get the dreaded, “Because I said so.” Even though it was probably annoying, I continued to question, and I continue to do so today.
That’s a good quality to have, according to Amazon CEO Andy Jassy. He has noticed that the employees and teams who most ask “Why?” and prod for more answers are most successful: They’re the ones who best break down complex problems and create new products, he explained in his most recent annual letter to shareholders, which published on April 10.
“In the nearly 28 years I’ve been at Amazon, the biggest difference in the relative growth of companies and individuals has been their aptitude to learn,” Jassy wrote. “People with high YQ [the instinct to frequently ask ‘Why?’] are always curious how they can get better, become wiser, and incorporate their new knowledge into better customer experiences.”
Posing questions can encourage “constructive debate” and messy meetings, Jassy said. That often helps prevent mistakes or brainstorm new ideas.
“You can’t book 60 minutes to invent Amazon Prime, or AWS [Amazon Web Services] or Alexa+,” he wrote. “These inventions are born out of somebody asking why we can’t change what’s possible for customers, and then they take on a life of their own, often meandering down multiple dead ends before getting to a final destination.”
Inquisitiveness can be a powerful trait in the workplace, according to communication experts. Getting a second opinion, trying to figure out how something is done or even gently challenging an idea can even help you gain influence among your colleagues, Stanford lecturer Matt Abrahams told CNBC Make It in September 2024.
“It demonstrates you care, it demonstrates empathy, it demonstrates you’re willing to learn and, in some cases, admit you don’t know everything,” said Abrahams. That approach can make clear that you’re open to feedback, and it can make the other person feel more comfortable asking you for your opinion when they need advice.
I used to be a little self-conscious about asking too many questions, fearing it made me look less knowledgeable. But after reading this article, I feel even more empowered to keep prodding for answers.

CNBC