Leadership is often treated as a role, as if it were something you did rather than something you lived. Authentic leaders, on the other hand, can bring their full selves and thereby lead from a much deeper place. Ask yourself:

Q: How much of my real self do I show at work?

Q: What do I feel I can’t I tell my colleagues?

Q: What masks do I wear?

Q: What might happen if I felt freer to bring more of myself?

Tom’s Reflections on These Questions

These feel like very powerful questions that can be applied to pretty much everything we do. We are social beings and tend to want to belong. This means that we sense the rules of the game within each group and play accordingly.

The upshot is that we feel we need to turn up in certain ways, follow certain unwritten rules, play certain roles and as a result self-censure.

Just ask yourself:

  • What might I contribute to this group if I felt free of these constraints?
  • How might that benefit the group?
  • What downsides might there be for the group?
  • Is this about me or the group?

As leaders, the final question is absolutely key. If we are in a leadership role, our job is surely to put the organisation or group first. If we don’t are we truly showing leadership?

Programme Overview

The Curious Leaders programme is designed to foster a deep sense of curiosity about who you are as a person and as a leader. It challenges you to reflect on what you can do each day to become a more effective leader. The premise is that before we can truly lead others, we first need to lead ourselves.

It thus ultimately starts with self-leadership. This is about building a practice of reflection and action whereby we become increasingly curious about how our thinking is impacting our actions. This is the first step in building a world in which curiosity shapes leadership.

In this world, leaders aren’t boxed in by traditional thinking or established playbooks. They are open to fresh ideas and diverse perspectives, fostering a culture of exploration and learning. In truth, nurturing curiosity in leadership is essential if we are to address the key challenges of the 21st century.