I have had the privilege of working with the University of Canterbury MBA Leadership paper over the last five years. One of the highlights is reading about people’s leadership journeys over the course of the programme and seeing the wins from people moving from problem solving to growing their people and their capabilities.
Jeff Wetzler, author of Ask: Tap into the Hidden Wisdom of People Around You for Unexpected Breakthroughs in Leadership and Life, suggests when walking into high-stakes conversations are you focused on winning … or learning? If your mind’s racing with rebuttals and rehearsed lines, pause. Before you speak, do a quick “Curiosity Check.” It takes five minutes — and it can change everything. Jeff calls this a mindset reset. Instead of gearing up for battle, you shift from defensive certainty to genuine curiosity. That shift opens the door to insight, connection, and breakthrough.
Here’s how to do it:
- Spot your starting point. Think of curiosity as a spectrum. On one end: “Self-Righteous Disdain,” “Confident Dismissal,” “Skeptical Tolerance.” On the other: “Cautious Openness,” “Genuine Interest,” “Fascinated Wonder.” Ask yourself: When I hit disagreement, where do I land? That awareness is your launchpad.
- Choose your destination. Don’t try to leap from zero to zen. Just pick a mindset that’s one step closer to curiosity. Maybe you move from Confident Dismissal to Cautious Openness. That’s progress.
- Ask better questions. What might they be struggling with? What’s not being said? How could my words land? What assumptions am I making? These questions shift your stance—and your impact.
