Tried asking a direct question in a meeting yesterday and got total silence for 30 seconds

Fiona Robinson · 2026-04-07T15:40:07.509805+00:00

I was in our weekly team check-in, just a video call with 8 people. We were going around giving updates, and when it got to me, I decided to skip the usual fluff. I said, 'Okay, my project is blocked because I need a decision on the budget. Who can actually approve the extra $500?' I thought someone would jump in, but nope. Just quiet. I could see people looking away from their cameras. It was super awkward. I guess I learned that even in an 'ask anything' culture, people get weird when you actually do it. How do you get a straight answer without making everyone freeze up?

karenw905mo ago

Actually, I think direct questions are the only way...

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dakota_rivera5mo ago

Ugh, the budget question always does that.

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pipera502mo ago

Thirty seconds of silence? Honestly that sounds more like a bad zoom connection or people just not wanting to be the one to say no. I've been in meetings where someone asks a budget question and everyone's suddenly checking their phone, but it's usually because nobody actually has the authority and nobody wants to admit it. It's awkward for like ten seconds then someone says "I'll follow up offline" and you move on.

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