5 minute read
Leadership has always been about people—our personalities, our decisions, and our interactions with those around us. However, the advent of artificial intelligence (AI) challenges what we know about leadership. While AI introduces incredible processing power and data analysis capabilities, it also teaches us something deeply human—how to be more curious. What if we could apply the lessons from AI to sharpen curiosity as a core leadership skill?
AI has transformed decision-making through its ability to iterate, learn, and adapt at speeds we can’t match. This same mindset of continuous curiosity is essential for leaders. Let’s explore how the mechanisms that make AI effective can fuel greater curiosity and help you hone your leadership skills.
Why Curiosity Is the Real Leadership Edge (Even AI Knows It)
One thing AI does really well is keep learning. It’s never “done” gathering data, making predictions, and adjusting based on what it finds. This constant iteration should remind us of the role curiosity plays in leadership.
As leaders, if we stop being curious—if we stop digging deeper, asking why, and exploring the unknown—we stagnate. I often talk about the difference between asking questions to show what you know versus asking to genuinely learn. AI doesn’t assume it has all the answers; it seeks them. Leaders need to do the same. We need to create environments where curiosity isn’t just encouraged but essential to how we lead and work.
Borrowing AI’s Curiosity to Level Up Leadership
AI’s ability to process information at lightning speed is impressive, but what happens when we pair AI with human curiosity makes the real magic. Think of AI like the HIPPO (highest paid person’s opinion). It is great with numbers but likely needs some guidance on context and nuance.
In leadership, we can take inspiration from how AI processes data. AI relentlessly refines its models through feedback, much like how leaders should constantly refine their thinking through questions. It’s about moving from simply collecting data to making sense of it with a curious mindset; AI shows us that asking better questions leads to better outcomes and decisions.
The Impacts of Bias and Feedback on Curiosity (and AI)
AI, like humans, has biases. Because we’ve created it, we’ve (intentionally or not) included our own biases.
But the thing is, AI teaches us something critical about how to handle biases. AI models are trained to recognize patterns, but those patterns can be flawed if we don’t question the data feeding them. Leaders face the same challenge—our experiences and assumptions shape our decisions, often leading us down biased paths without realizing it.
Curiosity is the tool that keeps us from falling into that trap. I have shared that curiosity helps us dig deeper, pushing us to look at things from different angles. In leadership, this means asking, “Are we missing something? Have we explored all perspectives?” By actively challenging biases through curiosity, leaders can foster more inclusive, fair, and creative outcomes.
One of the most powerful lessons from AI is its ability to learn from feedback. Every time an AI system receives new data, it adjusts, improving its outcomes. Leadership isn’t all that different. Leaders grow when they’re curious enough to seek feedback—not just from their teams but also from their own experiences.
Remember: it’s worthwhile to practice reflection after every meeting and conversation and ask, “Did I approach this with a growth mindset or a fixed one?”
Like AI, leaders who ask these questions and remain curious about their performance will continue evolving. It’s a cycle of learning, improvement, and adaptation that only strengthens as we engage with it.
The Future Belongs to the Curious
As AI continues to advance, it forces us to reflect on what makes leadership truly human. AI can process massive amounts of information, but it can’t replace the human touch—our ability to empathize, connect, and, most importantly, and to ask the right questions. Curiosity will keep leaders relevant and adaptable in the years to come.
Curiosity isn’t just a skill—it’s a mindset. It’s about being open to possibilities, staying humble in the face of what we don’t know, and creating a culture where asking questions is just as important as finding answers. AI reminds us that learning never stops, and neither should our curiosity.
By modelling how AI iterates, adapts, and refines, leaders can harness the power of curiosity to grow, innovate, and inspire. The future doesn’t belong to those with all the answers—it belongs to those brave enough to ask the right questions.
Stay Curious!