Post by Dr. Shadé Zahrai

The best communication tip I’ve ever learned? Stop leading with "why." I had no idea that this simple three-letter word could unintentionally trigger defensiveness and create unnecessary friction in conversations. For many people, "why" can sound like an accusation, even when that's not your intent. A simple shift is to start your questions with "what" or "how" instead. ✘ Why did you do that? ✓ What led you to that approach? ✘ Why did you make that decision? ✓ How did you arrive at that decision? ✘ Why did you say that? ✓ What was your thought process? This small change can have a surprisingly big impact on your conversations and relationships. It encourages curiosity instead of defensiveness, and often leads to more open, productive discussions. For more practical communication tips like this, click the link beneath the video to access my 10 micro-learning lessons on LinkedIn Learning – completely free. :) P.S. Have you noticed this in your own conversations?