The Sticky From The Inside Podcast

Curiosity Is Not a Soft Skill: Why Great Leaders Ask Better Questions

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We all start life curious. Asking questions. Exploring. Wondering why.

Yet somewhere along the way — especially at work — curiosity can begin to fade. Not because we stop caring, but because we’re rewarded for certainty, speed, and having the answers.

In this episode of Sticky From The Inside, Andy Goram is joined by leadership strategist, researcher, and TEDx speaker Dr Debra Clary to explore why curiosity isn’t a “nice-to-have”, it’s a leadership superpower.

Drawing on decades of experience inside global organisations like Frito-Lay, Coca-Cola, Jack Daniel’s, and Humana, Debra shares why curiosity can be learned, measured, and deliberately strengthened. Together, they unpack how curiosity drives performance, engagement, trust, and better decision-making — and why leaders who stop asking questions often unintentionally shut others down.

They also explore Debra’s research-backed Curiosity Curve, the four drivers of optimal curiosity, and why curiosity matters even more in a fast-moving, AI-driven world.

If you care about building teams where people feel seen, heard, and able to contribute, this conversation will change how you think about leadership.

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Key Takeaways
  • Curiosity is learned, not innate. Debra’s research shows curiosity can be developed, measured, and strengthened at every level.
  • Certainty kills contribution. When leaders prioritise speed and answers over questions, they unintentionally shut people down.
  • Great leaders play the long game. Asking questions builds confidence, capability, and future leaders — not just short-term efficiency.
  • Curiosity is a human advantage in the AI age. AI delivers answers; humans still need to ask the right questions and apply discernment.

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    Key Moments

    The key moments in this episode are:

    01:11 – Why curiosity is natural — and why it matters at work

    07:57 – “Can curiosity be learned?” The question that changed everything
    10:54 – What an Italian train journey taught Debra about certainty
    13:36 – “Curiosity killed the cat” — the part we all missed
    17:41 – Why disengaged employees feel unseen and unheard
    26:15 – The Curiosity Curve explained
    34:30 – Why senior leaders score higher on curiosity
    38:51 – Curiosity, AI, and discernment
    42:49 – Debra’s 3 Sticky Notes for curious leadership

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    Join The Conversation
    Find Andy Goram on LinkedIn here
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    Check out the Bizjuicer website here
    Get a free consultation with Andy here
    Check out the Bizjuicer blog here
    Download the podcast here
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    Useful Links
    Follow Dr Debra Clary on LinkedIn here
    Follow Dr Debra Clary on Facebook here
    Follow Dr Debra Clary on YouTube here
    Find the Dr Debra Clary's website here
    Find The Curiosity Curve here
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    Full Episode Transcript

    Get the full transcript of the episode here

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    The Sticky From The Inside PodcastBy Andy Goram
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