Leading With Curiosity, and Courage in an Age of Disruption
By Cecilia Stanton Adams, CEO, The Diversity Institute
Let’s be real, the workplace has changed more in the last five years than it did in the last fifty.
Your teams are more diverse than ever—racially, generationally, culturally. Gen Z is entering with bold expectations, Millennials are craving purpose and flexibility, and Boomers are staying in the workforce longer with deep expertise to offer.
At the same time, technology—especially AI—is changing how we work. We can automate more than ever, collaborate across time zones, and make decisions at lightning speed.
But here’s the irony, as work becomes more digital, people are craving more humanity. A recent Workday study found that 76% of employees want more human connection at work. They want to grow. They want to be part of something meaningful.
No matter the organization, there’s a consistent pattern, when people feel valued, heard, and supported, they show up differently. They stop clocking in and start showing up…with purpose and passion. That’s when culture stops being an afterthought and becomes your greatest competitive advantage.
But building that kind of culture in today’s climate takes more than good intentions. It takes leaders who are curious and courageous enough to evolve with the world of work.
Leading with Curiosity
The best leaders I’ve worked with have one thing in common, they don’t pretend to have all the answers, instead they ask better questions.
In today’s workplace, curiosity has become a superpower. Curiosity helps us navigate complexity, avoid assumptions, and stay open to feedback that challenges how we’ve always done things.
What leading with curiosity looks like:
- Managers who listen more than they speak
- Teams where feedback is welcomed
- Leaders who care about employee growth just as much as performance
- Organizations that build equity into systems, not just statements
Last year, I worked with a CEO who shifted the mindset of her entire leadership team by starting every meeting with a simple question, “What’s one thing your team needs this week that they might not share out loud?”
That one question changed everything. Conversations weren’t just about metrics anymore; they were about people. Stress levels. Burnout. Celebrations. It’s not surprising that after several months of this practice, not only did morale improve but so did performance.
When we lead with curiosity, we build trust. And when there’s trust, there’s collaboration, creativity. and belonging.
Courage to Do the Hard—but Right—Thing
Leadership today requires courage to challenge outdated norms. To speak up when equity is being compromised. To slow down when burnout is high, even if the numbers look good.
And sometimes, it’s the courage to try something new before you feel “ready.”
The future of work demands that we not only acknowledge complexity—but lean into it. To lead through ambiguity with integrity instead of control. To trade performative policies for practices that reflect who we really are and who we want to be.
Three Ways to Start Right Now
Here’s the good news: you don’t need to overhaul your organization overnight. Small, consistent actions build trust and shift culture over time. Here are 3 actions you can begin taking today:
1. Check in, for real.
Ask your team, “How are you really doing?” Then stop talking. Listen. Let silence be part of the conversation.
2. Re-center your values.
If your values live on your website but not in your meetings, it’s time to bring them back to life. What does respect, integrity, or inclusion actually look like in day-to-day practice?
3. Celebrate the how, not just the what.
Instead of solely rewarding outcomes, recognize collaboration, creativity, emotional labor, and courageous feedback. Show your team that how they show up matters.
Because the future of work? It’s already here. And it’s more human than you think.
Learn more about The Diversity Institute: https://www.stantonadams.com/
About MHQ
Driven by the vision of a thriving, vibrant community, MHQ is a woman-owned, world-class management company that delivers customized services. Founded in 2013, MHQ has provided association management services since its inception, as well as infrastructure to organizations in a range of industries. We serve professional and trade associations, as well as government and public sector entities. For more about MHQ, visit https://www.management-hq.com/.
