How Insatiable Questioning Disrupts Stagnant Systems and Sparks Breakthroughs

An Israeli tech firm faced declining productivity and growing customer complaints, yet middle managers hesitated to change a rigid, decade-old project tracking system. Enter Tamar, a 23-year-old recent hire, who noticed that hours were wasted on double entry. In the weekly review, rather than staying silent, Tamar publicly questioned if the current model was truly the best fit or just inherited habit. She outlined an alternative using a cloud-based tool, provided supporting stats from similar companies, and acknowledged that switching would involve growing pains.

At first, her candor unsettled her boss, who wasn’t used to such directness from someone so new. But soon, other staff joined the debate—some half-defending the old way, others riffing on Tamar’s improvements. What began as contention grew into a shared problem-solving session, ending with a pilot test of both systems. Within two months, the team found a substantial drop in wasted time, and a survey showed staff felt more empowered to speak up.

That small act of 'chutzpah,' or bold questioning, proved crucial. In Israel, this phenomenon is not limited to tech firms. The same assertiveness shows up in classrooms, military units, even city government. Repeated studies have shown that complex systems—organizations with flexibility and channels for questioning—adapt faster and outperform those that value rigid compliance over creative dissent.

Commit to making your next challenge a spark for good trouble. Pick one process that you honestly believe could work better, and gather real evidence or workable alternatives for your suggestion. Don't keep it to yourself: bring it into the open—in a group, a message, or even a hallway chat. If you're nervous, remember that real breakthroughs start with discomfort. Ask for sincere feedback, listen for counterarguments, and let the discussion shape better solutions. Give it a go this week, and let questions, not silence, drive your next step.