Ever been on a troubleshooting call where you’re mostly just listening in?
Maybe you weren’t the lead, maybe the issue wasn’t in your direct wheelhouse, but you stayed on, curious. At first, it might feel like information overload. Acronyms are flying, logs are flying, and so are the tempers sometimes. But if you tune in and take notes, you’re doing more than just sitting silently, you’re investing in your future self.
One thing I’ve learned: networking and virtualization go hand in hand. In many environments, the line between the two is blurred. Some people are rockstars in virtualization but struggle with networking. Others are network pros who don’t know where to begin with a hypervisor.
Now imagine being solid in both. Not necessarily an expert, but competent enough to connect the dots. To troubleshoot effectively. To collaborate confidently. That kind of hybrid skill set makes you incredibly valuable.
I don’t consider myself a networking expert, far from it. But over time, I’ve made it a point to understand the terminology, the flow, the dependencies. Not because someone told me to, but because I was curious and I saw the value.
Those “listen-only” calls? They’ve helped me get there. Quietly, consistently.
And here’s something I’ve also picked up: when there’s silence on the call, whether folks are waiting on logs or trying to figure something out, that’s a perfect time to break the ice and ask questions. Being curious might feel risky at times, but it’s almost always a good thing. It shows you’re invested, that you want to understand the environment, and that you care about more than just your own task list. Technology is always changing, and curiosity is how you stay in the game.
Throughout my experience, I’ve been on all types of troubleshooting calls, from quick five-minute wins to grueling six-hour marathons. And even with 20 years in IT under my belt, I’m still hungry to learn more. Every call is a chance to sharpen your skills, gain perspective, and uncover something new about the systems we support.
Let me share a quick story that really drove this home for me.
I got called in to help troubleshoot an issue. I followed all the best practices, logical steps, documentation, collaboration with others. Everything pointed to a specific failure point, but we couldn’t fully resolve it. Eventually, we brought in someone who had been with the company for years. He didn’t just solve the problem, he explained why it was happening. There were historical settings and past architectural decisions at play that we hadn’t considered.
That moment changed the way I viewed our infrastructure. I didn’t just learn about the problem, I learned the context. And with that understanding came new ideas: better design choices, different technologies we could leverage, and how to avoid similar pitfalls in the future.
Final Thoughts
Sometimes, the most valuable part of a call isn’t what you say, it’s what you absorb. And when you do speak up, even just to ask a question during a lull, it can open the door to learning, collaboration, and even innovation.
Stay curious. Stay engaged. Even in the silence.
Tech Dad 