We’ve all been there.

You’re at work. Someone says or does something that makes absolutely no sense. It’s like watching someone take a left turn straight into a brick wall—and then blame you for the dent.

Your first instinct? Snap. Sigh. Maybe mentally draft your resignation letter during lunch.

But before you do that, try this sentence:

“Help me understand what led you to that decision?”

Not sarcastically. Not passive-aggressively. Genuinely curious.

It’s not about playing therapist. It’s about keeping your cool. Buying yourself some thinking time. And maybe—just maybe—getting to the bottom of the madness without turning it into a full-blown drama.

Curiosity is one of the most underused tools in any workplace. It takes the heat out of conflict. It helps you step back instead of getting sucked into the storm. It keeps the focus on understanding, not reacting.

That one question?
It’s like a seatbelt.
It won’t stop the crash entirely, but it’ll stop you flying through the windscreen.

And here’s the kicker:
Sometimes, when you ask with real curiosity, you do learn something useful.
About them.
About the system.
About how to survive it all with your sanity (mostly) intact.

So next time chaos strikes, skip the eye roll.
Try the question.
You might be surprised where it leads.