Curiosity Killed the Cat, But It Could Save Your Career
In the fast-paced world of leadership, the art of asking the right questions can often be overlooked. Yet, this skill can set truly effective leaders apart. Inquiry opens doors to discovery, creativity, and collaboration.
When leaders prioritize asking questions over providing immediate answers, they create space for teams to explore solutions together. This fosters an environment where critical thinking thrives and fresh ideas emerge.
Why Questions Matter
The act of asking real questions doesn’t just gather information—it exposes underlying assumptions, encourages diverse viewpoints, and ultimately leads to more comprehensive solutions. I emphasize “real,” because often we hear fake questions - questions that begin with, “Don’t you think that …” or, “Wouldn’t you prefer it if…” Real questions expand the possibilities of where we land, while fake questions lead to predetermined destinations.
The dominant culture over-indexes the importance of answers, and while seemingly more efficient than questions, answers suggest an endpoint. Endpoints imply that the exploration is over; that the path forward is already known. However, in an insanely complex and connected world, very few challenges have absolute solutions. Every solution creates new problems (think: Whack-a-mole). By constantly striving for answers instead of improving our questions, we end up missing out on the creativity and innovation that arise from ongoing inquiry and exploration.
Questions are invitation for your team to actively participate in the journey of learning and growth. Questions like, "How might we approach this differently?" or "What are we missing here?" or “What else might be true?” shift the focus from a singular point of view to a collective exploration. This approach nurtures a culture of curiosity and continuous learning—a critical factor in adapting to change and driving innovation.
What might the impact of asking more open-ended questions be for your leadership? For your team's leadership? What would it look like to resist the temptation to jump to sharing your thoughts/answers? What questions might inspire a deeper sense of engagement and ownership in your organization?
Inquiry in Practice:
Encourage Deeper Thinking: In your next meeting, ask open-ended questions rather than providing answers. Questions like, “When do you tend to find flow states in your work?” or “What is the best part of contributing to this team?” or “Who else can we talk to about this challenge?” can begin to create new thoughts, and illuminate hidden solutions.
Crowdsource Solutions: Pose questions like, "How might we approach this differently?" or "What other perspectives are we not considering?" to invite alternative viewpoints.
Reflect, Together: Take time to introspect with your team and review recent challenges and successes. Explore what could have gone better to produce improved results for these recent projects/initiatives/efforts.
As we navigate the uncertainties and complexities of our modern world, adopting a mindset of inquiry is the most powerful tool we can carry. It keeps us open to new possibilities and reminds us that growth doesn’t stem from having all the answers, but from being willing to ask the right questions.
Let’s commit to cultivating the habit of inquiry. Let’s move away from the certainty of answers and lean into our childlike curiosity. After all, in a world where there are few absolutes, staying curious may just be the key to unlocking endless potential.