In their global research for the book The Leadership Challenge, Jim Kouzes and Barry Posner gathered responses from over 75,000 people, asking what they valued most in a leader they would willingly follow. Nearly 90% of the people gave the same answer: honesty. That’s a message that all leaders should take to heart.
Honesty came first, and I agree. But right behind it, I would put curiosity.
We need leaders who are inquisitive and open-minded, willing to question their assumptions, interested in the ideas of others, and eager to learn. People who can put their ego away and resist the temptation to prove they are right. This was a difficult lesson for me to learn.
The Trap of Always Being Right
In my mid-30s I was working as a consultant to Fortune 500 companies, helping them close deals of over $100 million. Overconfident, I would stand toe to toe with a senior executive and argue that I had the “right” answer. Then one day I realized I did not. Most of the time, there was no single right answer. There were multiple possible solutions that might all be equally sound.
As soon as I understood this important point, everything became easier. I did not have to try to prove that my idea was the best. I could simply listen, ask questions, and then make thoughtful, well-reasoned suggestions based on my expertise and experience. If they liked the solution, great. If they went with something else, great. My job was not to tell them what to do, it was to help them arrive at the best possible solution.
Lessons from High-Stakes Consulting
At 55, I realized that I know very little about almost nothing, and nothing about almost everything else. Although I have won numerous awards as a global thought leader, I am only scratching the surface in a few niche areas. This was humbling and exciting. As it turns out, I do not know as much as I thought I did, and there is so much more to learn. Every day I wake up curious about what I can discover. There are endless opportunities to grow and improve. It is exhilarating.
I hope my reflections will help you embrace your ignorance and increase your curiosity. The world is full of talented people and amazing ideas. Our task is to find them and learn from them.
If you’re serious about strengthening your organization, I invite you to join me and the Entrepreneurs’ Organization with Align for this upcoming session. You’ll leave with practical ideas you can apply the very same day.
📅 This Thursday, September 11th
🕚 11:00 AM EST
