InPower Coffee Break with Lynn Borton and Leading through Curiosity

by | Feb 21, 2016 | Coffee Break

Coffee break starts: 1pm ET / 10am PT

Key Takeaways:

  • Curiosity isn’t just a trait—it’s a leader’s first move, a deliberate choice to step into unknown territory, ask questions, and learn before jumping to conclusions.

  • Lynn shares three simple “Lynnisms” to stay curious in leadership: shift your viewpoint literally or mentally, remind yourself you don’t know what you don’t know, and always seek first to understand before being understood.

  • Leading through curiosity means walking in others’ shoes—literally exploring how a workspace or perspective might feel from another person’s vantage point.

  • Instead of aggressive “why?” questions, opt for open, exploratory inquiries using the Four Ws and an H—what, when, where, who, and how—to nurture receptivity and learning.

  • Curious leadership transforms organizations by not just accepting change but inviting perspectives, deepening empathy, and remaining agile in ambiguity.

What does it mean to lead through curiosity?

We will be having a conversation with Lynn Borton, a facilitator—of conversations and transformation—with more than two decades of experience in governance and change management in the non-profit sector. For nearly 25 years she worked with NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness – the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization), capped by a dozen years as chief operating officer. In the summer of 2014 a confluence of events reminded her that life is short and in 2015 she left NAMI to write and consult.  Lynn is producer and host of “Choose to be Curious” a biweekly radio show on WERA-LP 96.7 FM in Arlington, Va. Follow Lynn on Facebook.

We will be learning about curiosity, how it can enhance leadership and make you a generally better leader in your organization.

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Mar 19 – Is the era of “good leadership” over?

Apr 16 – Psychological Safety and Gendered Competition

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