Keeping Curiosity, Humility and Growth in Our Leadership 

As we continue exploring what it means to be a Mature Disciple, I want to chat today about the importance of curiosity. Curiosity is an often underrated quality in a leader because leaders often fall into the trap that they have a deeper understanding of the world, people, and God than those around them. Without curiosity, a leader can become arrogant, and their growth can be stifled. 

Asking Questions:

Curiosity stands side by side with humility and a willingness to learn. It is a posture we can lean into, and the easiest way to do this is by asking questions. First, ask yourself:  What can I learn from this person? From this situation? What questions can I ask to help me learn/understand more? Also, ask questions of those around you: How would you handle this situation? What did you learn from your difficulties? What do you want to gain? How can I help? 

Thoughtful questions can help with two things: first, you can learn something new. Even a young or inexperienced person will have a different perspective on a situation and a different set of strengths to handle a problem. It is always worth trying to understand another way of thinking and view the world differently. It may be an approach you don’t care for personally, but on the other hand, you may learn an easier, wiser or more efficient way to handle a situation. You will also learn more about the person you are working with, which makes future collaboration easier. 

The second way questions can help is that they demonstrate an inherent value in others. Asking for others’ opinions or their thoughts shows that you respect them. Questions also demonstrate that you are paying attention, recall details about a person, and care about them. The right questions help build trust between people. 

Commitment to Growth:

There are always areas in which we can grow to become better versions of ourselves. In the book of Exodus, Moses learned valuable lessons in delegation and managing others from his father-in-law, even though Moses was a leader of the people and had decades of leadership experience, he still sought the advice of others. For example, Moses still saw the value his father-in-law’s teaching could provide him and listening to another perspective allowed Moses to grow and become an even more efficient and wise leader to his people. 

Humble people seek to develop themselves, even when they feel like they are thriving. When we believe we have nothing left to learn in our work, it’s time to reevaluate how we perceive ourselves: we are lifelong learners. It may be time to push ourselves to engage with a new situation or a new person. Now and then, I like to look up at the trees, because they offer a great reminder that we should be constantly growing. Even trees that are 2000 years old are still growing every year. Another year adds another layer. A tree in Tasmania, Australia, called the Huon Pine, grows a millimetre a year. A two-meter radius has taken 2000 years to grow. It may be slow, but this slow growth has made the wood grain incredibly fine and one of the most amazing timbers to work with. Its slow, continuous growth makes it a valuable and prized building material; the more the tree grows, the more valuable it becomes. 

Reflection Questions:

• Where are you growing? 
• What professional development are you undertaking? 
• What new skills are you developing? 

What’s next: Who is helping you develop professionally? If you feel like you are ready for a new growth experience, you can take the first steps at https://vervelead.com/contact/