Picture this: A client approaches with an urgent request for a training module. The typical learning designer's toolbox flings open, eager to dispense advice, solutions, programs, and justifications. But what if the most powerful tool at hand was simply to pause and probe deeper?

When we act before we understand, learning solutions falter—here's why a pause can make all the difference. It’s an all-too-common scenario: In our rush to showcase expertise, we often prescribe before we diagnose. But imagine the possibilities when we resist the temptation to immediately respond with solutions. Instead, we invite a richer understanding with a seemingly simple phrase: Tell me more.

Why can these three words—Tell me more—be transformative? Because they tap into an essential truth: beneath every request lies a network of needs, assumptions, and perspectives. When we say "tell me more," we do more than gather information—we create a space for collaboration, empathy, and nuanced understanding. 

Cognitive science sheds further light on a surprising truth related to this: When asked to elaborate, individuals engage in higher-level thinking processes, which can lead to more refined and insightful contributions than initially offered. This is rooted in the 'Elaboration Likelihood Model,' which suggests that prompting people to delve deeper increases the likelihood of central route processing—the route of persuasion that involves careful and thoughtful consideration of the true merits of the information presented. 

This means that 'tell me more' doesn't just solicit additional information; it often elevates the quality of that information, engaging the speaker's critical thinking. In the context of learning design, this can be the difference between surface-level solutions and those that address core underlying issues, making the simple act of asking for more detail not just beneficial, but potentially game-changing.

In the complex dance of communication, "tell me more" is more than a passive request; it's an active invitation that signals to clients, stakeholders, or team members that their views are essential to the harmonious composition we aim to create. It encourages a chorus of voices that can redefine problems, uncover hidden challenges, and illuminate paths forward that were previously obscured by the shadows of haste.

But what does active engagement look like in practice? Let’s envision a scenario: A manager requests training to improve team efficiency. Instead of reaching for off-the-shelf solutions, the learning designer says, "Tell me more about your team’s day-to-day challenges." The conversation that unfolds reveals not just surface-level inefficiencies, but deeper issues of communication and morale that no standard training could resolve alone. The path to a truly effective solution begins with understanding, and understanding begins with those three words.

Embracing this approach requires patience and practice. It might initially slow down the conversation, but it paves the way for more targeted and sustainable outcomes. Learning designers must cultivate the habit of curiosity, resist the urge for immediate problem-solving, and instead become investigators of context, culture, and complexity.

Whether you are a learning designer, a product manager, in charge of business development (the list could go on and on), your mission extends beyond delivering content; you are an architect of change. By inviting more information with "tell me more," we avoid the pitfall of assumption-based solutions and instead empower stakeholders to articulate their true needs. This results in experiences that resonate, transform, and endure.

So next time you're presented with a request, remember: The most profound solutions arise from the deepest understanding, and the journey there begins with three simple words. Tell me more. And then listen—really listen—to the symphony of insights that follows.

Stay curious!

Colt