It is natural to believe we are good at such and such and bad at other things. We are conditioned to think in this way from a young age. And yet, sometimes these are just stories we tell ourselves.

The invitation is therefore to reflect on those instances in which you tell yourself:

I am no good at this / I could never do that / That is not my style

This is not about believing you can do anything or be anyone but rather about exploring how you might be making your world unnecessarily small.

Q: What step might I take to test the limits of my beliefs?

Tom’s Reflections on These Questions

The final point above is really important. Regardless of the effort, we cannot become masters of everything. That is to some extent choice but natural inclination from genetics and upbringing are clearly factors. Opportunity is also a factor. Many may have dreamt of becoming astronauts – few have accomplished it. The same is true for CEOs of blue chips.

And yet, whilst we statistically think we are smarter than we are and are much more confident in our opinions than is warranted, we simultaneously paint worlds that are smaller than they need to be.

The question then is: What might be possible if I believed it were possible?

When exploring new ideas it can be helpful to be accepting of every suggestion and use “Yes, and” or “What might we…..” approaches.

What if we did the same for ourselves?

  • What might I accomplish if…?
  • Who might I become if….?
  • What might I do today to…..?

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.