Listen to this story Members can listen to an AI-generated audio version of this article. 1.0x Audio narration uses an AI-generated voice. 0:00 0:00 Become a member to listen to this article Subscribe One of the most quietly dangerous phrases in modern workplaces is: “Can we just get a quick answer?” It is dangerous because what people often actually mean is: “Can somebody make the discomfort of uncertainty disappear?” Modern organisations are obsessed with speed – faster responses, faster systems, faster delivery, faster decisions. Everyone is “circling back”, “touching base” and escalating things marked urgent that absolutely were not urgent five minutes earlier. Meanwhile, half the workforce is running on caffeine, cortisol and Microsoft Teams notifications, so naturally we’ve collectively decided AI will fix this. Become a member for unlimited access to FE Week subscribe Our members enjoy early access to exclusive content and in-depth articles before anyone else. Get expert journalism on FE and skills, experience fewer ads, and unlock a growing range of member benefits.