“If I ask a question, they’ll know I’m not qualified.”

When your voice says:

“If I ask, they’ll realize I don’t know what I’m doing.”

“Better to stay quiet than look unqualified.”

Coach Lynn says:

A clear question can show attention, judgment, and a desire to get the work right. Silence can leave you with less information than you need.

Then you say:

Here’s what I need to do:

• Take one or more Composure Breaths to settle my body.
• Pin down what I'm missing: "To do this well, I need to know ___.”
• Turn it into one clear question: "I want to get this right. Can you tell me ___?"
• Watch how they actually respond. Most people are glad to help, and a good question usually earns respect, not judgment.

Coach Lynn says:

Knowing what to ask is part of being good at what you do. When you ask for what you need to know, you get the work right, show real engagement, and grow more capable every time.