Everyone Is Wrong About the #1 Salesforce Skill

❌ It’s not Flows.
❌ It’s not Apex.
❌ It’s not DevOps.

So, what is it?
✅ Asking the right questions.

Let me explain.

Flows, Apex, and DevOps are all tools in the Salesforce toolkit—powerful strategies for achieving specific outcomes, like admin-friendly automation, seamless integrations, or smooth deployments. But none of these tools mean anything if we don’t first understand why they’re needed.

When someone comes to you with:

  • “We need a Flow because...”
  • “Write me some Apex that does...”
  • “We need to streamline our DevOps...”

Your response should be:

  • “What would that Flow accomplish for you?”
  • “What problem is this Apex solving?”
  • “What’s the impact of improving DevOps here?”

The ability to ask the right questions—to dig deep into the why—is the #1 skill every Salesforce professional must master to be truly successful.

How to Get Better at Asking Questions

You might be thinking: “Asking questions? Isn’t that just something people are naturally good at?”

Wrong. Asking insightful questions is a skill like any other—and you can learn it. Here’s how:

1. Cultivate Curiosity

Always seek to understand the bigger picture. Ask yourself:

  • How does this work?
  • Why was this built the way it was?
  • Who is asking for this, and what’s driving their need?

When you approach problems with genuine curiosity, you’ll naturally uncover opportunities to ask follow-up questions that lead to better solutions.

2. Approach with Humility

Instead of assuming you know the answer, start by listening and learning. This builds trust and helps uncover valuable context. For example, say:

  • “I’m sure there’s a good reason for this. Can you walk me through it?”

Avoid statements like:

  • “This was done wrong. I can’t believe they did it this way.”

Humility not only makes you easier to work with but also ensures you’re solving the right problem.

3. Give the Benefit of the Doubt

Start with the mindset that every request is valid—but remain open to uncovering the root cause. Often, the request itself isn’t the best approach, but you’ll discover this by exploring why it was made.

For example:

  • Someone asks for a Flow to automate lead assignment. Through questions, you find the real issue: outdated territory data causing routing errors. The better solution is updating the data, not building a new Flow.

4. Be Open to Collaboration

Asking great questions isn’t about challenging requests for the sake of it. It’s about collaborating to uncover the best path forward. When you involve stakeholders in this discovery process, you’ll achieve solutions that align with their goals while minimizing unnecessary work.

Why This Skill Matters More Than Ever

In an ecosystem as vast as Salesforce, technical skills like Flows, Apex, and DevOps are essential. But without a clear understanding of the problem, even the most elegant technical solution will miss the mark.

Mastering the art of asking the right questions transforms you from a task executor into a trusted partner who drives meaningful outcomes. This skill will make you stand out in the Salesforce community and position you as a leader—not just a builder.

Final Thoughts

The next time someone asks you for a Flow, some Apex, or a DevOps overhaul, pause. Ask one open-ended question before diving into execution. Over time, you’ll notice how much more effective and trusted you become.

Remember:
The best Salesforce professionals don’t just build solutions—they uncover the right problems first.

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