Be resolute in your curiosity
"I think at a child's birth, if a mother could ask a fairy godmother to endow it with the most useful gift, that gift would be curiosity." Eleanor Roosevelt
Curiosity may have killed the cat but it helped the leader and his or her organization immensely. Leaders are more than just curious for curiosity sake. They are resolute or purposeful in their curiosity. Indeed, any worthy employee or teammate displays a level of curiosity - a thirst for wanting to discover more, learn more, solve more, and know more. Curiosity as a trait is a good sign of a future leader.
Leader curiosity underscores a thirst to better themselves, better their people, and better their organization. This is why they must be resolute with it. Leaders are always exploring and asking questions such as, "Tell me more.", "How did that happen?", "Why?" They don't accept things at face value. Their curiosity pushes them to dig for root causes to problems. It drives them to want to know another person on a deeper level so that they may lead them better. Curiosity pushes them to engage in introspection and self-awareness - to know themselves on a deeper level to strengthen their own leadership.
There is a tenet in Army operations, "exploit success." This tenet challenges leaders and units to move beyond 'taking the hill.' Once success is achieved in securing an objective or capturing a high-value enemy combatant, this success can be exploited by digging (curiosity) for more intelligence or securing more terrain to boost one's advantage. This same concept applies in a private business. "Why did this customer decide to pick another company?" "Why was last quarter our best quarter for revenue ever?" "How can we exploit this massive milestone our business has achieved?" "What's next?"
While curiosity may unveil ugliness, it can take a leader and their organization to great places. It can help them exploit successes, grow their people, and grow themselves - but only if they are resolute about it. What are you curious about today? What should you be?
Make it Personal!
Rob
Rob Campbell