Bridge the gap between the classroom and the field.

One thing I tell young construction professionals is:

“Never ask a question you don’t have the answer for.”

That may sound backward. If you already have the answer, why ask the question?

The point is not that you must know the final answer. The point is that you should never ask someone else to do your thinking for you.

Do the Work Before You Ask

Before you bring a question to a superintendent, project manager, architect, engineer, or trade partner, do your homework.

Study the drawings and specifications. Look at the schedule. Walk the work and examine the actual field conditions. Talk to the people closest to the installation. Find out what has already happened, what needs to happen next, and what other work could be affected.

By the time you ask your question, you should understand the problem well enough to offer a likely answer or a possible solution.

Ask a Better Question

A weak question is: “What do you want me to do?”

A better question sounds like this:

“Here is what the drawing shows. Here is what we found in the field. Based on my research, I believe this is the best way to proceed. Do you agree, or is there something I’m missing?”

That question shows preparation. It also gives the other person enough information to understand the condition and respond intelligently.

Think About the Consequences

Construction decisions rarely affect only one activity. Before recommending a solution, ask yourself:

• Could this create a safety or quality problem?
• How will it affect cost or schedule?
• Will it interfere with another trade?
• Does the design team or owner need to be involved?
• What happens if we proceed without resolving it?

A quick answer is not always a good answer. Good field judgment means looking beyond the immediate problem and considering what your decision could cause later.

Bring a Possible Solution

You may not have the correct answer—and that is all right. The purpose of doing the research is to develop your reasoning.

When someone gives you a decision, do not stop at writing it down. Ask why that decision was made. Understanding the reasoning helps you recognize similar conditions in the future. Over time, those lessons become judgment.

At FieldWise Training™, our purpose is not to tell the next generation what to think. It is to teach them how to think.

Do the research. Develop an answer. Then ask the question in a way that confirms—or corrects—your reasoning.

Better questions lead to better decisions. Better decisions lead to better projects.