Sometimes you gotta just crank for the deadline, but I think the best long term play for one’s career is to ask genuinely curious questions.
The more you understand, the better you can work with your team and distill information for the decision makers above you.
And the best way to get there is to ask.
I’ve often told consultants or vendors, talk to me like a fifth grader. Teach me the premise of the problem so I can wrap my head around the problem cogently.
Of course, sometimes you have to get all the real experts in the room to resolve an issue. But it helps to have a good sense of when its necessary to push the big red button.
Such an instinct is developed over a long period of time, adding knowledge day by day, taking advantage of the many learning opportunities along the way.