Leader Skills Series: Curiosity

I'm writing this just after one of the most significant, troublesome and consequential days in our modern democratic history - a day when I have many questions and have lost a great deal of curiosity for others. While I feel a sense of rigidity, sadness, blame and anger seep in, I also know unequivocally that it is curiosity that invites healing, innovation, creativity, openness, learning, and repair. Curiosity can be one of the most transformational skills. ​Today, while I struggle with curiosity myself, let's remember its importance, together. 

I take a hard stance on curiosity - if you can't be curious, you can't lead effectively. This being said, it's not possible in my experience to remain curious all the time. It ebbs and flows based on what's going on around me.

 Here are some reflections to play with:

• What is your relationship to curiosity? 
• What does it feel like in your body when you are curious?
• How do others respond to you when you express curiosity?
• What are you most curious about right now? 
• What is most challenging for you to be curious about? Why?
• How do you move yourself from closed off to curious? What specific practices do you use? 

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Your ability to not just feel curiosity but return to it after difficult events is essential to be adaptive, build trust, have critical race conversations and create shared solutions to epic problems. It's critical to build community and sustain democracy.

Curiosity is most easily lost when we are confronted with hate, polarized conversations, fear, and our values are threatened. On the way back to curiosity there is often grief. Be gentle as you take that path. When it's time, I hope you'll join me and to find your way back to curiosity if you've lost it.

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