Saying "This is just how we do it" is sometimes the perfect response, amirite?

If you don't have a reason for why you do something then you either don't know enough about what you're doing to explain it properly or you're probably doing it inefficiently and should look for a better process.

by Alexandrea45 14 hours ago

There are some choices that make no material difference tho so long as you're consistent, don't matter. Or, were just chosen by a single individual's preference a long time ago that serves no benefit to correct. Not knowing the origin story doesn't mean you don't understand the process. "This is just how we do it" is the most literal answer you can give.

by Anonymous 14 hours ago

- I am also in these moments walking them through why I do something in a particular way and what got me to that frame of mind.

by Comfortable_Fly 14 hours ago

Eeh, I've always been a fan of "ship first, optimize later". Always welcome improvements, but many times there are a million fires to put out and features to do, you can only work on the highest priority things.

by Inevitable-Age 13 hours ago

And not everyone actuallyneeds to know why.

by Anonymous 13 hours ago

Often the person who says - "Just trust me" is the last person you want to trust.

by Amazing_Train9832 13 hours ago

Your second to last paragraph is what stands out to me, because I view it in exactly the opposite way: saying "This is just how we do it" is the epitome of Boomerism and defending the status quo by knocking down any sort of questioning.

by Anonymous 12 hours ago

Off to listen to Montell Jordan now, thanks.

by Anonymous 12 hours ago

Think about how many times someone has said that to you and it's been a stupid decision. That's the problem, you can't expect people to blindly follow you with confidence if you can't explain why you're asking them to do something. I get it though. I'm someone who visually and instinctively works stuff out, so I also have a hard time putting my reasoning into words, but it's always worth trying.

by Judyhane 12 hours ago

That's not an answer! I don't ask why to seem like I'm "going against the grain", I'm asking because I genuinely want to know. Especially if the task I'm given seems somewhat pointless.

by Amy86 11 hours ago

I agree until, "This is just how we do it" turns into a massive business expense.

by Ecstatic-Strength 11 hours ago

It's always a lazy response. Giving SOME reason why it is done that way is better than "we just do it that way." If they ask why you don't do it a different way, you should be able to answer why. Either because of "x problem" that their way causes, or because "having a consistent way of doing things is just good practice." The latter is basically the same answer but it's a bit more insightful, and thus a better answer.

by Anonymous 11 hours ago

In most situations there is an optimal process or solution. 'This is just how we do it' doesn't even attempt to consider that.

by Maleficent-Pepper941 11 hours ago

I don't think it should be that much of burden to explain WHY something is done a certain way. There's either a reason for it, or there's not. If there's no reason you do something a specific way, and it's just habit... all you gotta say is, "This is how I do it because it's the best way I've found to do it and it's a habit." It's not that deep.

by Anonymous 10 hours ago

Shows little understanding for the task being done.

by Vanmitchell 10 hours ago

Enough questions, this is just how he does it!

by Anonymous 9 hours ago

- I am also in these moments walking them through why I do something in a particular way and what got me to that frame of mind

by Comfortable_Fly 9 hours ago

Fair enough, must have missed that. However if they are then suggesting a different method then either they don't understand the reason or the reason you explained doesn't cover their suggestion (or they think it doesn't). In either case it merits extra explanation. Either now or later.

by Anonymous 9 hours ago

Agree, I never said anything about not explaining more. Just that the overall sentiment of that phrase never being acceptable is quite ridiculous

by Comfortable_Fly 9 hours ago

Around my house I say this to my kids all the time lolz but you have to sing it!! This is how we dooo iiit🎶

by Anonymous 9 hours ago

If you're very proficient at your job, you should be able to answer "why don't you do it this way?" with "well, while that way has advantage [x] it oftentimes causes [y] disadvantage that makes it not worth it" (or whatever. There's times where "just trust me" makes sense - an emergency, under a time crunch, etc - but when there is time to give the explanation, that's going to make the person you're trained better prepared for the job. And, further, if you don't have a good explanation, it helps catch possible inefficiencies in your system.

by Anonymous 8 hours ago

This is like when lazy parents say "because I said so" instead of just explaining why. It also just sounds extremely powertrippy and condescending. You could at least word it better like "we've done trial and error and this solution has had the best outcome."

by alfonzo44 8 hours ago

Uh no it's idiotic. You either have a good reason for why you do it or you don't. Being unable to explain what the good reason actually is would indicate that you don't have a good reason.

by Mobile_Fisherman_984 7 hours ago

In which case you're not just saying "this is how we do it" you're demonstrating why.

by Mobile_Fisherman_984 7 hours ago

or "this is just something people do" whenever it fits

by anahi66 6 hours ago

I think it's perfectly fine. No matter what I think it's important to learn the way things are done before even attempting to come up with a better way. A phrase I have used that can be similar is "it's just the right thing to do"

by gottliebebba 6 hours ago