Fesshole 🧻Since I was promoted into a management role at work, I've noticed that I've started answering people's questions with a question. I hate it. I might have to quit.
Supermoosie@fesshole
When might you quit? Who will ask the questions then?
BillValid. Make them figure out the solution.
Jen
The FrogBefore quitting, think about it carefully and weigh the pros and cons. Look at the extra pay and the benefits it brings against the extra stress and the risk of going against your moral values. Moral values are too often disregarded, but constantly going against them can lead to mental health problems by creating cognitive dissonance.
(See, I've never been anywhere near a management position, so i can be straightforward)...
As for answering any question with a question, this is very similar to the socratic method of philosophy and a millenia old technique to reach higher truths.
Perhaps don't see yourself as a manager, but see yourself as a philosopher.
Angua 
@fesshole
Don't you think it depends on the quality of each set of questions?
Don't you think it depends on the quality of each set of questions?
Zalasur 🐸🇺🇦@fesshole That's actually a valid strategy for dealing with questions like that, especially if you're in a leadership position. You'll never have all the answers, no matter how smart you think you are.
Isocat@fesshole Is this good for the company?
DCKIM
Rook@fesshole I scale the effort committed to my answer with the effort required to answer their own question.
"Have you checked the manual? No? Well, off you go then."
"I see you've made a reasonable effort to solve this before coming to me. Let's figure this out together and update the process going forward if necessary."
The biggest challenge is straddling that line between convincing your team that dumb questions are allowed and encouraging them to try self-education first.
Y2ky Jelly@fesshole
Lead and manage with empathy and kindness. Help your staff and fellow employees to help you, if they’re difficult spend the time to work through their problems. Or you could just tell them how it is, what you want and what they need to do!!
Lead and manage with empathy and kindness. Help your staff and fellow employees to help you, if they’re difficult spend the time to work through their problems. Or you could just tell them how it is, what you want and what they need to do!!
Vile OxI can only assume, but it seems to me that as a manager the OP is content with answering questions with questions. It is in "real" — outside of work — life he does not like doing it.
Professional deformation, we call it. Apparently, some behaviors are hard to compartmentalize.