How have you expressed curiosity today?

Being curious is a great start, but it’s how you extend your curiosity out into the world that counts.

We believe curiosity is a vital leadership capability.

Being curious can be a trait, yes — one in many ways we can look to our children to show us how to lean into it.

But it is absolutely a capability, one that can be nurtured, explored, developed and expanded.

Curiosity as a capability for leaders to be effective doesn’t stand alone. It needs a high-level of self-awareness, and ideally to be combined with advanced skills of deep, empathetic listening and sophisticated contextual inquiry.

Being a curious leader really is all about asking the right question, and the right time. Knowing when to observe in order to pose questions of yourself before asking them of others. Knowing which questions are best unsaid in the moment, held respectfully for another time or a more poignant moment. And critically how to shape and form a question to maximise impact whilst minimising unintended consequences.

All of this considered, we come to our focal question for this article…

How have you expressed curiosity today?

Once you’ve explored the primary question, here’s a few additions or variations you may wish to consider as well…

• Have you expressed curiosity having considered the consequences of your question?

• Has your curiosity been born our of sincere, unbiased interest?

• Does the expression your curiosity reflect your values, and help you move towards your purpose?

• Does the expression of your curiosity reflect the values of the person you are directing it towards, and will your inquiry help move them towards purpose?

• How could you hold your curiosity a little longer, and see what additional revelations you receive by doing so?

As always, I hope you’ve found both this question, and these variations helpful.

Thanks for your time and attention — both are very much respected and appreciated.