Kindness is scalable

A question is not a confession of ignorance. It’s just a question.

Over the years, I’ve realized that the people who ask questions, who double-check, who follow up, who pause a meeting to say, "Sorry, I didn’t get that part," are often the ones who quietly help the rest of us do better. Not because they have all the answers, but because they care enough to make sure things are clear, aligned, and moving in the right direction.

Give me a teammate who’s above average in skill but consistent, warm, and thoughtful - over a solo genius who works in silos and acts like communication is a chore.

Because honestly, being brilliant is great. But being dependable, respectful, and curious? That’s a kind of everyday brilliance too - the kind that makes teams feel safe, helps juniors grow, and takes a good project to great - without drama.

It’s easy to mistake silence for strength. But strength is also in the willingness to learn out loud, to be the one who admits "I don’t know," and then goes and finds out.

So here’s a quiet truth I’ve learned: "Brilliance is great. Collaboration is better."