When people ask a why question, they are reacting to change. When they do, they can have different objectives.

One is to genuinely explore why something is being done or happening. Another is to find reassurance.

Asking why offers the opportunity to explore that new future and let go of the past. However, when why is asked in an environment that doesn’t allow for ambiguity and exploration, it can come across as aggressive.

It’s the call to leadership to be reassured that the leader still is leading.

When leaders understand it as having to explain the situation, they step into an effort to reassure by sharing the rationale. Would they allow themselves to be questioned as a leader the threat might be too big, thus it often isn’t on their mind. And the person asking why, may not desire to share their fear either, thus they hope that the rationale will solve their problem.

In such a space both seek to hide their anxiety.

In a space allowing for doubt and vulnerability, they would both would be regulating their anxiety as well as learning what the change means for them.