If you ask a group of people to describe strong leaders, you'll likely hear responses like these:
“The leaders look strong. By their strong physical presence, they convince others to follow them. ”
“Leaders are very articulate. Their loud voices and powerful language motivate people. ”
“Leaders are decisive. They are the first to make a decision and act. »
« Leaders are charismatic. When they walk into a room, they attract attention. »
Related: 7 Personality Traits of a Great Leader
We've all heard opinions like these about leadership. Yet, in my opinion, they are flawed and wrong most of the time. Are some leaders tall and handsome, with booming voices? Yes, but that is not where the essence of leadership lies. If you doubt this opinion, allow me to point out a group of notable leaders who do not possess these traits at all:
Stephen Hawking was one of the world's greatest scientists and life-changing thought leaders, but he suffered from physical limitations.
Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg has one of the most passionate legal minds in the world, but does she speak in a bright, compelling voice? Not at all.
Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos revolutionized retail and business, but is he attracting attention because of his commanding appearance?
The Dalai Lama and Pope Francis exude a powerful spirituality that has changed the way people think, but they seem self-effacing and modest.
Sheryl Sandberg, COO of Facebook and author of the highly influential book Lean In, is a visionary leader who changes the role of women in the world, but in her demeanor she appears modest and calm.
I think you will agree that all of these very different people are important leaders. They have a lot in common. They are all empathetic and intelligent. They are all capable of identifying, understanding and expressing very big ideas and concepts. But I would like to tell you that their ability to lead can be found in another trait that they all share…
They are all extremely curious people.
In fact, they have dedicated their lives to finding new solutions to old problems, new ways to motivate people, new ways of thinking, and even new ways of behaving. While other people seem to think that once they've found a solution they can stop looking for new ideas, great leaders relentlessly pursue the new and the best.
In all of them, you'll see Curiosity models like these:
1. Great leaders practice “engaged leadership.”
This means they are much more interested in listening to others than listening to themselves. They are curious to hear and learn from young people, old people and people from backgrounds different from their own. Instead of excluding people, they invite them in. They are constantly on the lookout for new and better ideas, and when they hear concepts with potential, they relentlessly explore them.
2. Great leaders are intensely curious about ideas that come from fields like art, literature, philosophy, and more.
We know, for example, that Steve Jobs studied beautiful objects and wanted all of his products to not only work well, but are very attractive. Could his products have been so successful if they just worked well? Maybe, but his curiosity has made Apple products unique in the market.
3. Great leaders are constantly looking for new and better solutions.
While others continue to apply ideas that have worked well enough in the past, good leaders are looking for ideas that are radically new and better.
4. Great leaders are ready to make mistakes.
In fact, they put their ego aside and surround themselves with people whose ideas might be better than their own.
5. Great leaders admit their own limitations and ask for help when they need it.
In this way, they place no upper limit on their ability to grow. When he started, did Jeff Bezos know everything there was to know about the technology he later used to build Amazon.com? Probably not, but he showed the curiosity to ask the right questions of the right people.
Every day brings opportunities to listen to new ideas, learn new things, and try something different. If curiosity is the key to great leadership – and I believe it is – you can start developing your leadership today simply by being curious.
Related: 6 ideas to embrace your curious side
