Before big conversations – think performance reviews, negotiations, or strategic debates – most leaders prepare facts and arguments.
But what’s often missing is mental readiness. Enter the curiosity check – a fast, three-step process to help you shift from certainty to openness.
Locate your mindset. Before the interaction, ask yourself: Am I genuinely open to learning something new, or am I just looking to be right? Be honest. If you’re feeling dismissive, defensive, or convinced you already know the answer, name that. Awareness is the first step to shifting out of rigid thinking.
Set a realistic intention. Once you’ve identified your mindset, choose where you want to be. Aim to move toward openness – not perfection. If you’re skeptical, try being interested. If you’re frustrated, try being receptive. Small shifts make a big difference in how others respond to you.
Use curiosity questions. To support your mindset shift, ask yourself: What might I be missing? What’s going unsaid? How could my assumptions be wrong? What’s the other person struggling with? These prompts interrupt bias and invite fresh insight.
– Adopted from ‘The Right Way to Prepare for a High-Stakes Conversation’ by Jeff Wetzler.
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