Embrace Being a Beginner: Cultivate Curiosity
Do you remember your first day of Algebra?
I do, vividly.
It was the early 90s, we were all wearing neon, it was 7:30am…and I swear we were in the coldest classroom in the school.
But what really stands out in my memory is how curious I was about this algebra thing, and all the questions I had as soon as I opened the textbook.
That curiosity helped me get through that first semester of algebra.
And it’s the skill that helped me most as a new leader.
Curiosity as a Skill
I used to always think of curiosity as a quality or attribute. Something one is or is not. Like cats are curious.
I’ve learned over time that curiosity is also a skill. And it’s a skill that’s critical for leaders to cultivate if they want to be successful.
With curiosity, you can:
- Build strong relationships by showing genuine interest in your team members.
- Avoid blame and defensiveness in stressful situations.
- Interrupt unconscious bias and examine your own decisions.
- Open up possibilities so you can find the best solution — instead of assuming you already know.
In fact, if I could pack one thing in any leader’s “backpack,” curiosity would always make the list.
A Story of Curiosity in Action
A manager I worked with a few years ago came to me, frustrated and ready to fire a member of their team.
When I asked what happened, they explained that this employee had been failing to meet deadlines, often delivered incomplete work, and — the final straw — had missed a team meeting that day.
So, I got curious…and asked a ton of questions:
- How long had this been going on?
- What feedback had been given?
- Were there any changes on the team or in the employee’s life that may have an impact?
- What did they say when you asked why they missed the meeting?
It turned out, the manager had ditched curiosity and gone straight to blame and judgment. They hadn’t asked questions, given feedback, or even checked in about the meeting.
When they circled back with curiosity instead of blame, everything shifted.
Instead of firing that team member, the manager ended up promoting them the next year.
Through curiosity, they learned what was really happening, built trust, and grew as a manager. A win-win all around.
How to Cultivate Curiosity
When it’s our first day in a new class or role, it’s easy to step into that beginner’s mindset. But if we’ve been in the same spot for a while, we can forget what it’s like to be that curious beginner.
Here are a few ways to refresh your curiosity:
- Try something new – take a dance class, learn a language, or sign up for a communication workshop. Put yourself back in the beginner’s seat.
- Ask more questions – instead of assuming, dig deeper.
- Listen deeply – focus on the answer, not on what you’ll say next. Notice both what’s said and what’s unsaid.
These are the kinds of skills worth keeping in your leadership backpack — the ones that help you show up prepared for whatever comes next.
Fresh Tools for Your Leadership Backpack
Just like the thrill of new notebooks and highlighters on the first day of school, leaders need fresh tools to keep curiosity — and other essentials — sharp.
That’s why I created the Leadership Backpack: a free collection of practical, ready-to-use resources to bring that “first day of class” feeling back to your leadership.
Each week, we add new tools to help you:
- Build curiosity and ask better questions
- Strengthen communication and connection
- Reset your mindset when things get tough
- Add a little more ease (and even fun) to your leadership
👉 Grab your free Leadership Backpack here (Password: Backpack25)
New tools drop weekly — check back to keep your backpack stocked and your leadership sharp!