Leading with Curiosity
Curiosity in leadership is a quality that often gets overlooked, especially with the demands on leaders, but in reality, it can make a huge difference in how leaders engage. Leaders rarely have the time necessary to meet the demands of their role, as a result, they can fall into the trap of thinking they have all the answers or pushing too fast to get deliverables over the finish line.
We have all heard it said, “Perception is Reality”.
Leaders have hundreds of moments a day when people are generating perceptions and judgments about them. Curiosity requires a higher level of awareness allowing leaders to challenge their personal biases and beliefs and understand how these influence how they show up, respond, and behave.
Being curious allows leaders to challenge their own biases and beliefs. When curious, leaders are more likely to seek to understand the biases, beliefs, and different perspectives of others and consider multiple viewpoints before making decisions.
Curiosity fosters trust and engages people on a deeper level.
When leaders are naturally curious, they're more likely to be seen as authentic, intentional, creative, and innovative. Curious leaders are able to see what is beneath the surface and search for what really needs attention to drive success.
One of the most significant benefits of curiosity, in my opinion, is that it helps leaders build trust and engagement, and relationships at a deeper level. When curious, great leaders avoid accepting things at face value and instead approach problems with a “not knowing” mindset. They entertain questioning over certainty, facilitate broad inquiry and deep listening exploring root causes.
Curiosity is a vital trait for leaders. Great leaders never truly arrive, but continuously cultivate learning, growth, and exploration. Reflecting on the hundreds of moments a day when you are being watched and judged, you can strategically manage your reputation by asking questions, being open-minded, and encouraging curiosity in others.
Thanks for reading, and let's stay curious together!
“Listen with Curiosity, Speak with Honesty and Act with Integrity.”
Video: Curiosity is Your Super Power.” ~ Spencer Harrison and Jon Cohen
Book: The Power of Curiosity: How to Have Real Conversations That Create Collaboration, Innovation and Understanding by Kathy Taberner & Kirsten Siggens
Book: The Workplace Curiosity Manifesto: How Curiosity Helps Individuals and Workspaces Three in Transformational Times by Steffan van Hooydonk
Book: The Curiosity of Change: How to Bring Light to the Dark Side of Change by Andre van Hall
Join the waitlist for our upcoming Mastery Class: Mastering Self where we will focus on the building blocks to setting ambitious goals grounded in your values, and how creativity and powerful routines can help you achieve success. 💻
Leadership & Executive Presence is a short read, but it packs a punch!
This is a short read that is packed with short lessons and tips on leadership from several sources the author interviewed.
I always find that books that include personal experiences can present leadership lessons and concepts in a more approachable way.
I recommend it the next time you are looking for a quick read that definitely introduced me to new concepts I will be trying.
P.S. Reply to this newsletter and let me know what you are reading 📚
Consider how many different pieces of content you see in any given week. See something that really resonates with you? Share it with us so we can feature it in our Social Media of the Week section!
This week’s feature is from Soundarya (Riya) Shanmugam:
“A coach talks to you, a mentor talks with you, and a sponsor talks about you (roles may overlap)”
I saw this post shared a few times this week. It does a great job of laying out the importance and difference between a coach, mentor, and sponsor.
All three are important to support your leadership journey and this post breaks down not only the definition of each but also the actions you can expect from each and how to make the best use of the relationship.
