When "Why?" Is A Threat

As a general rule of thumb, if someone asks you why you do something the way you do it and you take it as a threat or challenge to your worth as an employee, you know what you are doing is not the best way to do it. There are some exceptions- like if the person is exceedingly rude about it, or if the Bobs are being brought in to determine if your job is necessary at your current company. But tone and Office Space references aside, "Why?" should not be threatening.

"Why?" can be the best way to determine if your activities are as efficient as they can or if they are providing value. "Why?" can be a new person's way of getting to know the job or the position. "Why?" can be your manager's way of making sure that you can be trusted to reason and problem-solve. So remember, "Why?" does not mean you're wrong.

If you get the sense deep down that "Why?" is an affront to the work you are doing or who you are as an employee, it's probably because you suspect that the person asking really means, "Why on Earth would you do it like that when you could to this instead?" It's that doubt, that suspicion that puts you on edge, and you wouldn't have that if you didn't believe that there was a better way to do what you are doing or drive value with how you are doing it.

My advice is, ask yourself why! Beat your manager, your new coworkers, etc. to the punch! Don't be afraid to answer yourself truthfully, even if it means more work for yourself. It'll be far more impressive when someone asks "Why?" you can say "Well, I evaluated the way we had been doing it previously and for reasons x, y, and z it was going to be more efficient/scalable/comprehensive/valuable/clear/etc. to do it this way" rather then "I don't know, we have always done it that way."