The Duct Tape Marketing Podcast Curious Leaders Build Stronger, Smarter Teams
Jan 22, 2026
In this discussion, leadership strategist Debra Clary dives into the power of curiosity in building effective teams. She highlights how curiosity isn't just a soft skill but a crucial predictor of performance. Listeners will learn how bold questions can reshape workplace culture and drive engagement. Debra shares fascinating insights from research linking curiosity to team success and offers practical strategies for leaders to nurture curiosity within their organizations. Discover the traits that enhance curiosity and how to measure and develop this essential skill.
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Curiosity Shrinks Over Time
- Curiosity declines from childhood to adulthood because social and organizational norms train people to be incurious.
- Debra Clary links that decline to expertise, time pressure, and cultural messages that discourage questioning.
Curiosity Predicts Team Performance
- Debra Clary's research found a direct correlation between leader curiosity and team performance.
- She created the Curiosity Curve assessment to measure and improve curiosity at individual and team levels.
Lead By Asking, Not Telling
- Stop feeling you must always have the answer and instead coach by asking questions that help people solve problems.
- Focus on developing people’s critical thinking and confidence rather than delivering quick fixes.
