Talked with Sr VP in large organization. She didn’t feel as effective as she thought she should. Sat down with her Exec VP to see what he could share
He brought up subject she had not considered. What kind of questions was she asking who?
Pointed out she needed to review who she was talking to/with. What information did she want from:
Peers
Other leaders
Subordinates
AI
Other technology sources
Social media
Organizations belong to.
Associates
Family
Friends
To be curious leader have to identify questions to ask each of above audiences. Based on what you want to learn. (Not what you want to impart.)
Open ended questions encourage open ended thoughts (often not fully formed), new or modified ideas, opinions, observations etc. Most important, they are non-judgmental.
Starts by:
Identifying which of above audiences you are meeting with
Information you want to gain.
How you plan to use information.
Who you need to share information with.
How to best share the information.
How the process benefits your organization and team(s).
Next, approach information gathering from curiosity standpoint. More to be gained from curiosity than set agendas.
Are you trying to form opinions? It’s hard not to telegraph what you are looking for. Sometimes that’s fine. But it does not encourage participation. Coming from curiosity let’s people share.
Summary:
-Ask open-ended questions. They encourage non-judgmental participation.
-Come from position of curiosity, not factual presentations.
-Develop curious leadership. Your goal is to motivate, inspire and energize.
CTA: How many audiences will your speak to this week?
Will you use curiosity to gain open communications
Tom Ferree is the founder of Ferree & Associates and SecureEmploy, organizations focused on helping companies find exceptional talent and helping professionals advance their careers. Since founding Ferree & Associates in 1977, Tom has worked extensively with hospitality companies, executives, and rising leaders across the industry. Through SecureEmploy, he shares practical career strategies, leadership insights, and real-world advice to help professionals grow their careers and help organizations build stronger teams.
