April 14, 2025
You may be able to impress people from a distance, but you can only impact them from up close.
When we think about strong leadership, we often focus on traits like influence, competency, vision, or integrity. However, one skill that is often overlooked is curiosity.
Let’s dive into why curiosity might be the most underrated leadership superpower—and how you can begin to foster it within yourself and those around you.
Curiosity isn’t just about asking questions. It’s about being teachable. It’s about listening to understand—not just to respond.
At its essence, curiosity is the desire to learn. When individuals cultivate the skill of curiosity and demonstrate it, they encourage others to share their perspectives, fostering an environment of confidence, trust, and respect.
In contrast, simply telling someone what to do creates dependency, which can undermine a person’s confidence and potential. Curiosity involves relinquishing control and judgment.
So how can we develop curiosity?
Develop self-awareness. The number one rule in genuinely connecting with people is learning to forget about yourself. Connecting is all about others. Through self-awareness, you can become a giving-type communicator. It’s a posture of humility.
Create a learning attitude. Listening is an essential communication skill and is the most powerful form of influence. It shows that you value others and fosters connection. When we engage with curiosity, we learn; when we talk, we repeat what we already know.
Notice what (and who) challenges the status quo. Often, we encounter people who tackle life differently. They approach their growth or tasks in a completely different direction or format than you do. Being curious about their why and how will give you a fresh perspective.
Tackle assumptions. Before you assume, try this crazy method called asking. When people stop making assumptions, they begin communicating more clearly and cleanly. This one shift in operating can completely transform their time, relationships, and lives.
If you become a leader who actively listens to what is being said, you will build strong connections, and your followers will respect your guidance.
Be interested, not interesting, and watch your influence expand in every realm of life!
Intentionally Own It! What personalized growth does this message encourage me to pursue, and why does it matter? When will I take action, and what value will it add to my life and the lives of others when I do?