Why you should act like a 5-year-old on site

A child runs up to you, tugs on your shirt, looks up with wide eyes, and asks:
"Why is the sky blue?"
How do you respond?

You'd probably do one of two things:

1. Kneel down and explain.
2. Admit you don't know.

There is no option C to turn them away when you don't know, their innocence compels you to engage and explore the answer.

So on-site when we're trying to learn and ask.
"Why do we do it this way?"

Why do we get hit with the most dangerous sentence in mining...

Because this is how we've always done it.

....In an instant, that curiosity dies. It shuts down the conversation.

And it gives you—and anyone new to the industry—two terrible options:

1. Do the job, fall in line. Stop asking questions. Get the job done without understanding why.
2. Continue to ask why. Push back and risk being frustrating to work with as a newbie.

My Solution

Always pick Option B, ask them why—but do it strategically.
Don't be confrontational. Be genuinely curious.

Here's the exact sentence I use at work with all the new sites I go to.
I've broken it down:

Hey (name), I'm new here and want to make sure I understand this. What's the reason we do X. Is it because Y, or am I missing something?

'Hey (name) I'm new here'

You're deliberately positioning yourself as the student, not the challenger. This owns your newness, as people often feel pressure when in higher roles to prove themselves with complexity. It also builds rapport by calling out their name that they hear back to them.

You're giving them permission to teach you, which actually elevates their status. This makes them more receptive because you're not threatening their position. It also gives them a 'I need you', which triggers their mentoring instinct rather than their defensive.

'I want to make sure I understand this'

A claim would trigger feelings of judgement, but 'I want' ensures that you're taking responsibility for understanding, not interrogating their explanation or need to justify. It also signals that you care about doing the work correctly and are serious and competent, not rebellious. Definitely better than 'this doesn't make sense' which attacks the current process and ego.

'What's the reason we do X'

Questioning 'we' = the company, empowers them to answer as the expert worth learning from. The 'we' is intentional as it calls upon the specific method as a group action, and not about the person who was doing it.

'Is it because Y'

This is my personal tip and favourite item to add. Before asking a question without thinking, try and work logically through the answer. This shows proactiveness and ensures that while you are giving them an invitation to teach, you will be a good learner and time won't be wasted.

'Or is there something I'm missing'

This makes it impossible for them to get defensive, as by doing this first you take the blame on yourself. People fear asking questions for seeming not capable. But by asking this, you own it upfront. I've yet to meet someone who won't help me after I end with this.

If they STILL get defensive or can't answer that's still positive as it tells you everything you need to know about both the task AND the person.

In my last post, one of my biggest regrets was not finding a mentor early on, and this sequence above played out constantly.
If I just had that mentor to guide me through my learning would've been as fast as the child's.

Any questions? Reply to this email—I read every response.
Speak soon,
Jez 👋

FYI for the sky blue question pretty sure it's Rayleigh scattering; particles affecting shorter wavelengths differently than longer ones when light enters atmosphere.