As an executive, one effective way to enhance your leadership skills is to cultivate a curious perspective. In our previous article, we highlighted how leading with curiosity can positively impact your organization and those around you by keeping employees motivated, engaged, and creative. However, developing curiosity that resonates with others is not simply about asking questions or feigning concern for their issues.
To become a curious leader, focus on the following:
Clarity: Ask questions that clarify, rather than leading questions that guide people to the conclusion you think they should reach. This approach helps to open employees up to share their experiences and ideas.
Genuine interest: Show genuine interest in conversations, not just superficial interest. This sets up a safe space for dialogue.
Tone of voice: Use a non-judgmental and inquisitive tone, not abrupt and challenging. This shift can encourage open-mindedness in the conversation.
Curious mindset: Initiate conversations with a mindset of wanting to understand a situation from another person’s perspective, not with the intent to change their perspective. This can encourage people to be forthcoming rather than proceeding with caution in an interaction.
Active listening: Listen to understand and comprehend the situation, not just to respond. This validates people and encourages them to share new ideas or experiences.
Mindful presence: Focus solely on the conversation at hand, rather than acting distracted or hurried. This helps individuals feel connected to you.
To further explore the benefits of curiosity, stay tuned for our upcoming article, Curiosity Benefit #1: Keeping Employees Individually Motivated.
Schedule a free 15-minute session with me via my connect calendar on the website, email, or phone to work together to boost your curiosity skills.