Just ask.

Starting my first life class as a new joinee felt overwhelming. My head was spinning with questions: What’s my job? How does this class work? Can I even do this? Yet, the answer to all that worry was the simple lesson that stuck with me the most: Just Ask.This lesson came from an incredibly insightful life class, where Aman Sir and Arshi Ma’am created a perfect space for valuable, meaningful conversations essential for growth. This simple concept of asking gained profound depth when we discussed one of Stephen Covey’s 7 Habits: Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood.

Here’s the strange truth we uncovered about communication: When we are talking, we desperately want someone to just listen—no judging, no probing, and especially no advice. We just want to be heard. But when a friend or colleague comes to us with a problem, what’s our first move? We instantly want to jump in and solve it. We confuse comforting with fixing. Luckily, this common confusion is easy to fix with a simple, direct question. Stop yourself before offering advice and ask the person: “Do you just want me to listen, or do you want my advice?”

Whether you need direction in a new professional role or you’re trying to help a friend, the clearest path is always to put the question out there. Don’t guess, don’t overthink. The most powerful thing you can do is to Just Ask.