“Why are we building this in the first place?”
— A junior engineer, mid-sprint

That question stopped the room.

It wasn’t resistance. It wasn’t bravado. It was thoughtful curiosity — the kind that challenges assumptions and makes entire teams better.

And that one moment? It changed everything.

Within hours of that question, we discovered something important: the task that engineer was working on wasn’t aligned with what the user actually needed. Somewhere between product kickoff and sprint planning, a subtle disconnect had crept in.

By speaking up — by simply asking “why” — they saved us from wasting days of development.

And more than that… they reminded me what great engineering truly looks like.

Engineering Isn’t About Tasks — It’s About Thinking

We often romanticize engineering as clean code, clever systems, and fast delivery.

But that’s not the full picture.

📌 “Great engineering starts with curiosity, not code.”

Great engineers don’t just execute.
They explore.
They question.
They think deeply about what they’re building and why it matters.

They don’t blindly follow instructions — they ask whether those instructions even make sense.
They consider trade-offs, user experience, long-term consequences.
They connect the what to the why.

That’s what makes the difference between shipping features… and solving problems.

Ambiguity Isn’t a Bug — It’s a Feature

In strong engineering cultures, ambiguity isn’t something to be feared. It’s an invitation.

📌 “Ambiguity is where the best engineers shine.”

That’s because navigating uncertainty requires agency, collaboration, and critical thinking. It gives engineers the space to influence not just the how, but the what — and even the why.

But that only works in environments where curiosity is safe.

Psychological Safety Fuels Innovation

The reason that junior engineer felt confident enough to speak up wasn’t just their mindset. It was the culture.

On great teams, engineers aren’t just allowed to ask hard questions — they’re encouraged to.

📌 “Curiosity thrives in cultures that welcome it.”

When team members — especially junior ones — see their ideas valued, they engage more deeply. They stop just doing the work and start shaping the work.

And that’s when teams begin to build truly great products.

What I Took Away (and Keep Taking Away)

The smartest teams don’t always have the answers. They have the courage to ask better questions.

So the next time someone asks, “Why are we building this?” — pause.
Lean into that question. It might be the most valuable moment in your sprint.

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Thanks for reading,
Shireen Nagdive