Curiosity Actually Didn’t Kill The Cat

By Tyler Head

Curiosity Actually Didn’t Kill The Cat.

There was something magnificent in the distance through the barren silhouette of dead trees.

Growing in your ability to “Lead with Heart” is an opportunity for you, your people, and your organization.

To do this, you must move toward your people with curiosity.

Below is a quick recap of three characteristics:

• The courage to engage with your own vulnerability
• Developing high-trust relationships through time, with intentionality
• Cultivating psychological safety by encouraging your people to make mistakes.

A few weekends back, my wife and I went camping in central Missouri with some close friends. You’re missing out if you’ve never been camping in this area during Autumn. It is an excellent time of the year to be outside to witness the changing seasons.

We traveled down a long, winding, gravel road along Jack’s Fork River to access our campsite. It’s the type of road that looks like a spaghetti noodle on a map. On the road coming in, we were surrounded by trees and steep rock faces covered in underbrush and leaves.

My wife and I were last to arrive at camp. When we did, our friends were sitting around the fire, dogs were lying near, and kids were running back and forth. As dusk approached, I decided to take a walk—a bit further down the gravel road that we had come in on.

When I looked ahead while walking alongside the gravel road, I noticed something slightly off. It was within the tree line a couple of hundred yards ahead of me.

I was curious, so I moved toward it.

The trees around me were shades of orange, yellow, and red, but what caught my eye in the distance lacked color.

As I moved closer, I noticed this was a group of trees. Many of them must have had better years. With no leaves left, they looked grim amid the many-colored Sycamore, Oak, and Birch trees.

Yet, as I made my way to this eyesore, what I saw was better than I could have imagined.

I discovered a magnificent revelation through the silhouette of barren and colorless trees.

The river was thirty yards behind, complimented by 150 ft tall rock walls with yellow, orange, and red-leaved trees sprinkled throughout the scene. The sun had just dropped behind the ridge as I approached, complimented by a deep blue and purple sky.

The gift of this view was found only because, in my curiosity, I moved toward what I didn’t understand. When we see our people do something that doesn’t make sense to us, suspend your impulse to judge. Instead, move toward your people by becoming intensely curious. People do what they do for a good reason, yet remember it is for their reason, not necessarily yours.

How often in our organizations do we silence our curiosity and neglect to move toward our people?

How often do we miss something incredible because we are too busy, too distracted, or too wrapped up in the day-to-day to take action?

For countless valid reasons, we miss critical opportunities. This only accentuates the importance of moving toward our people.

Moving toward our people takes generosity of heart.

Look, I know this may be a bit mushy for you boomers, yet your company’s future hinges on you taking steps in this direction. And don’t worry—you won’t have to do it alone.

Just think of DRYVE Leadership Group as your organization’s guide to better walking with your people, developing a shared purpose, and cultivating a collaborative culture that DRYVEs better business results.

If you missed the past four insights that break down what it means to “Lead with Heart,” check them out below!

Insight 1: Will You Bridge the Gap?

Insight 2: Laying The First Stone

Insight 3: You’re Dead in the Water Without Trust

Insight 4: Are You Encouraging Your People to Make Mistakes?