Ask Three, Then Me: Finding Effective Solutions on My Own

I still remember the day that my high school band director marched into class, belly flopping, hair unkempt, eyes determined. He stepped up onto his podium, pointed his baton into the heart of the band, and loudly declared, “we are implementing a new policy, starting today. From now on, if any of you have questions, you are required to first ask three other people—or at least go to three other sources—before bringing that question to me.”

I remember smirking at my friends across the band and thinking, “there’s no way that policy is going to stick; Mr. Eriksen has no idea what he’s talking about. The reason we ask questions is because we don’t know the answer, and besides, isn’t it his job to teach us? Isn’t he paid to answer our questions?”

Come to find out, I was completely wrong. Mr. Eriksen did know what he was talking about, and his new policy stuck like glue. Every time I stopped by his office to ask him a question, I was greeted with, “Have you already talked to three other people?”

Sometimes I had, but more often than not, I hadn’t.

I quickly learned to seek out other resources—my peers, my private teacher, YouTube videos, even my parents—before asking Mr. Eriksen questions, and I quickly realized that there were answers to be found everywhere, not just in my band director’s tiny, cluttered office.

This realization eventually transferred over to my other high school classes: I began taking extra time to study the textbook when I didn’t understand concepts, I did research when the textbook fell short, I asked my peers and checked the syllabus when I wasn’t sure about deadlines. As I became more self-directed at school, I also became more self-directed at my job. In both places, my teachers’ and supervisors’ trust in me grew, and I was given more responsibility and leadership opportunities.

Of course, there were occasions when I couldn’t find answers on my own, and that’s when I’d go to my teachers and supervisors for help—but I could always show them that I’d already done my research. The partial answers I’d found through my self-driven research combined with the answers they’d found through personal experience always resulted in helpful, effective information that was more comprehensive and purposeful than what either of us could have found on our own.

In many ways, the lessons I learned in my high school band room carry over directly to college, internships, and other professional settings. When we find that we have questions, the easiest option is always to go to our professors and supervisors for help. They are, after all, some of our most valuable resources. However, our professors and supervisors often have extensive to-do lists, and their time is limited. The better choice is, as Mr. Eriksen would say, to “First, ask three, then me.”

So, what resources are available to us?

1. Previously established expectations. Often our most simple questions can be answered by looking back to the beginning of our course or job, when basic guidelines and expectations were set. In a university course, these expectations can be found in the syllabus. At an internship or job, there’s almost always a binder or file hidden somewhere titled “Policies and Procedures.” We can think of that document as the syllabus of the professional world. We can also look back on notes taken during or directly after our first meeting with a new supervisor—chances are, some of our present questions were addressed as we worked with our supervisor to create shared purpose.

1. Content. Course content, textbooks, and professional training programs all contain important information that we tend to overlook. Often, we are anxious to simply finish the assignment or begin working on assigned tasks that we skim over the important material, and that’s where unresolved questions are born. Taking a second to look back over the information that’s already presented can typically reveal goldmines of material that will help us find solutions.

1. Outside sources. Professors and supervisors alike typically try to give us all the information we need, but that doesn’t mean that they’re perfect in their efforts. That’s when it’s time to turn to outside sources, like this blog and other reliable internet sites. Sometimes all it takes to find an answer is a simple Google search.

1. People around you. Human interaction and knowledge sometimes are the only ways to find real answers to real inquiries. Our peers, colleagues, and student teaching assistants nearly always have insights different than our own, and they can be a priceless resource when our questions remain unanswered after expectations, content, and outside sources fail to provide the information we’re looking for.

By seeking out alternative resources to our professors and supervisors, you will be developing a better sense for how to find self-driven solutions. Your proactivity and autonomy will be visible, you will earn valuable trust and confidence in your work ethic, and you will be saving your professors valuable time. When you do find that you need to go to your professor or supervisor to complete your research, the solutions that result from your efforts combined with their knowledge will be more effective. All things considered, it’s a win-win situation for everyone involved.

Can’t find the answers you’re looking for? It may be time to turn to your supervisor.