I work in IT, in what is notionally a position where we collaborate and can ask each other questions. Our job is in a higher tier, so we are constantly getting new and different requests and issues. We have many customers and it’s impossible to know everything or how everything is setup.
I always ask “why” when I don’t know something. I want to know more because it makes me better at my job and more efficient. It also gives me more opportunities to advance later because I will know more than others.
Today I was informed that other people on my “team” (going to use that term pejoratively now, because we don’t operate that way) are upset by the fact I ask questions or try to solicit discussion about “why things are the way they are”. They will link or quote SOPs and then drop it, even if the SOP is a problem that will hurt the customer. They fire and forget, and it’s your problem if you don’t “get it” and “just do it”.
When I moved to this company, I moved down in position and rank for a pay raise. At my last job, I had more responsibilities and authority, along with the absolute need to ask “why”—because there were always variables to consider and problems to overcome. There were no SOPs to quote at that job, no standards to throw at people and walk away. Each customer was different and had projects that required deep understanding of that company’s needs.
Now, today, I find out that the attention to detail and attempting to correct flawed standards is considered a bane, not a boon. The other people on the “team” complained to my manager that I ask “why” and don’t “just follow the SOP”.
It’s beyond condescending to the point of destructive. How do they expect new people to join the company? I only started 8 months ago and apparently this has been a problem the whole time. How are we supposed to help each other grow if questions and explanations aren’t warranted? How is the company supposed to improve (for the sake of our customers FFS) if policies are never questioned? And why, for all that is holy, do my fellow coworkers think its up to them the police this behavior in others?
I’ve been working in IT for over 15 years and this is the first time I’ve ever heard of this. If anything, everywhere else I’ve been people beg for help and understanding so they can grow.
It’s not just leaders who can hold people back, but also shitty coworkers who condemn any person who does things differently.