Tag Archive for: curiosity

The Wizard of Wi-Fi

Last week whilst running a leadership programme for Aviva in Perth, we ran into some technical problems when the display screen and laptop simply stopped working.

The slides froze, the Wi-Fi seemed to disappear, and the result was the learning got stuck.

I looked at my co-facilitator, a little stumped.

“What now?” we both thought.

Disconnect, reboot, and see what happens.

After doing all that, there was still nothing.

Participants in the room paused and then started looking around.

“Time for a short break…” I thought.

Off they went.

It was time to send for Simon.

Simon is our IT expert.

But that description hardly captures what he really does. He’s constantly moving around the centre – fixing something, testing a new tool, trying out a different way to make things work better.

He’s endlessly curious.

And when something breaks, freezes or refuses to behave… he appears.

Within a few minutes he’s untangling cables, adjusting settings, installing software, restarting systems or calmly experimenting with another approach until everything springs back to life again.

I like to call him Mr Magic, as it’s a bit like watching a wizard at work!

The Wizard of Wi-Fi.

But there’s something else going on here too.

Because Simon isn’t just fixing technology, in many ways he’s enabling learning.

A room full of people can’t learn very easily if the tools they rely on stop working. Slides, microphones, screens, connections – they all form part of the learning environment.

And its Simon that quietly keeps that environment running – constantly.

What strikes me most, though, is not just his technical ability. It’s his mindset.

Experimenting and testing until something works.

Which, when you think about it, is exactly what learning looks like.

Trying things, adjusting, troubleshooting and figuring things out.

Every organisation has someone like this.

The person people instinctively look for when things go wrong.

In the Learning Centre, that person is Simon.

And like all good wizards… he’s usually already working on the next problem before anyone else has even noticed it.

Every organisation has a Simon.

Who is yours?

Shoes That Don’t Fit

This week, during a leadership session, I decided to make things a little more practical.
I invited one of the participants to quite literally stand in my shoes.
She slipped her feet into my size 9.5 leather shoes with plenty of room to spare, and I tried stepping into her size 5 trainers.
I couldn’t even get my heels inside them!
There I was, perched awkwardly on the balls of my feet, heels hanging over the back, trying to stay upright.
It was quite funny and slightly ridiculous!
“Your shoes are very warm.” she said.
We were exploring empathy and the phrase “standing in another person’s shoes.”
Empathy is feeling 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 someone, whilst sympathy is feeling 𝒇𝒐𝒓 someone.
I know that empathy begins by showing a little more kindness.
It is our ability to understand another person’s feelings, thoughts, and condition from their perspective rather than our own.
Standing in those trainers, I felt a little unsteady, constrained, definitely off balance and it changed how I felt.
In my experience, empathy is about being present in a conversation, listening attentively, being open-minded without judgement and giving them your undivided attention.
I know too, that sometimes, in those moments, something beautiful happens with a human connection, or a small glimpse into how they are feeling.

Another perspective

Our Saviour Jesus Christ is the perfect example of this. He does not merely observe our struggles. He understands them.
“He will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people…” (Alma 7:11–12)
He didn’t stand at a distance offering sympathy, rather He descended below all things and knew what it felt like to be weary, misunderstood, alone and off balance.
Because He walked our mortal path, He can now walk beside us perfectly.
I believe that empathy is something that can be learned, it simply begins with curiosity.
Empathy isn’t only about words, it’s also about noticing the tone of voice, facial expressions and what’s not being said.
This week, I stood awkwardly in someone else’s shoes and nearly toppled over.
Try walking in another’s shoes today. Go on, give it a go.
I hope we can walk as He walked, with compassion in our hearts and steadiness in our step.
Whose shoes have you never really tried to understand?

Clicker in Hand

This week I had the pleasure of co-facilitating a Lead the Way – leadership session with my colleague Nikki Bartlett of Korn Ferry at Aviva in Perth.
We’ve worked together often enough now to know each other’s rhythm and facilitation style. One of us steps forward, the other steps back. We build on each other’s ideas. We throw in the occasional spontaneous activity. We tease each other, laugh together, and all the while participants join in.
There was one constant from Monday to Wednesday.
The wireless presentation clicker.

The Clicker

The clicker moved between us throughout the day. My turn. Your turn. Step forward. Step back.
And in many ways, so did the learning.
In our facilitation world, the clicker is more than a tool. It’s a signal. Whoever holds it is guiding that stretch of the learning. It might be 30 minutes, or even an hour or two.
However, there was just one small issue…
Each of us must have misplaced it at least ten times – old age I hear you say!
It vanished onto tables. Slipped behind laptops. Hid on chairs. At one point, I’m fairly sure it developed legs. By Tuesday afternoon, we were casually asking the room during every pause, “Has anyone seen the clicker?”
It became our unofficial catchphrase!
And yet, somewhere between losing it for the sixth time and the tenth, something struck me.
The clicker kept moving between us all week.
But the learning moved even more.
It moved from us to the participants.
From one table to another.
From a question in the room to a story at the back.
And often, right back to us again.
And the funny thing is, every time the clicker disappeared, the learning didn’t stop.
The conversation carried on, the thinking deepened and the energy stayed in the room.
Which is a good reminder for those of us who work in learning and development.
Slides, models or tools don’t create learning and the clicker definitely doesn’t.
It is curiosity, dialogue and shared ownership that does.
The clicker changed hands all week.
But the real learning in the room wasn’t driven by a button, it was driven by each participant.
So, what moves learning for you?

Sitting alongside

In a recent learning programme, a participant asked a question that had left her momentarily confused.
Rather than answer from the front of the room, I paused, pulled up a chair, and sat alongside her.
It was a small movement, but it changed everything.
Her face was quite the picture for a second, a clear reminder that pulling up a chair isn’t standard facilitator behaviour!
What followed wasn’t an explanation, but a coaching conversation in real time.
I was curious, empathetic and unhurried.
Listening not to reply, but to understand.
To have empathy is to be able to feel another person’s feelings.
So often, conversations can become a dialogue of the deaf, where people speak past one another, each rehearsing their response in order to reply, rather than receiving the other and seeking to understand.
Empathy interrupts that pattern.
It slows us down.
It lowers our status.
It creates safety.
I know that leadership doesn’t always mean having the answer.
Sometimes it means changing the dynamics of the moment, by stepping out of a role, sitting alongside, and being genuinely curious about where someone is thinking from.
In turn, helping others find their own answers.
When people feel understood, thinking expands.
And when thinking expands, learning follows.
That, quietly, is leading the way.
Who might benefit today from you simply sitting alongside them?

Drawn to Learn

One of the habits I’ve carried with me for a long time is having my head buried in personal and leadership development books.

Over the years, I’ve gathered countless ideas and insights through my reading, many of which have shaped my thinking, my coaching, and the way I show up.

In almost every learning session I facilitate, I take a small stack of these books along with me, that I feel relevant for the topics at hand.

I place them quietly at the front of the room, arranged at eye level, just visible enough to stir a little curiosity.

Surfacing Ideas

Whilst facilitating, a thought, a principle, or an idea often surfaces in the room as part of a discussion.

Frequently, I have noticed that somehow in those moments a memory is triggered – a storyline, a poem or a quote and I just quietly reach for the book, to share it with the group.

And without fail, at some point, perhaps during a break, after a reflective exercise, or on the way out the door, someone wanders up to me, half-whispering the same familiar question:

“Can I have a look at your books?”

There’s something lovely about that moment.

It’s a reminder that learning is magnetic.

People are drawn to ideas, stories, and tools that promise to help them become a little more than they were yesterday.

The books aren’t there to impress.

They’re there as a silent, open invitation.

A gentle nudge that says: There’s always more to uncover. More to question. More to grow into.

And perhaps that’s one of my favourite parts of facilitation, the quiet exchanges that don’t happen when I’m speaking, but when someone chooses to explore a new possibility for themselves.

Because sometimes all it takes is the right book in the right moment… placed in just the right spot.

What’s the next idea you need to explore to grow as a leader?

Small Moments, Big Shifts

Its been nearly two months since I stepped into my new leadership facilitation role with Aviva.
I’ve been busy learning lots about new programmes and perhaps most meaningfully, seeing the power of thinking partnerships.
One of my favourite moments in many of our recent Lead the Way workshops comes during a simple but powerful “buddy coaching” conversation.
There are four different variations of the programme, depending upon seniority level.
During each programme, individuals are frequently randomly paired together.
It’s there, that the coaching conversations begin.
One person reflecting, the other listening deeply and asking thoughtful questions.
We encourage them to be curious.
Two people, fully present, exploring what it means to grow.
On the surface, it seems like a short exercise.
However, I’ve noticed that it only takes a few intentional minutes with a learning buddy like this, to unlock something deeper, a fresh idea or perhaps a new direction for them to consider.

Sitting and Walking

Buddy coaching isn’t simply about sitting opposite each other at a table, some of the best conversations and discoveries are made whilst out for a walk together.
Changing the environment can really help each of us change how we look at things.
“Walking is man’s best medicine.” – Hippocrates
In their conversations, leaders ask each other:
• How would you describe yourself as a leader right now?
• What assumptions do you carry about leadership?
• What would ‘better’ look like for you?
Every time we run this exercise, there is a noticeable, yet subtle shift in the energy in the room, from quiet reflection to rich dialogue.
These short listening and questioning exercises help people slow down and connect.
Interestingly, another upside is they think more intentionally about how they lead and respond to change.
Sometimes the most profound learning moments don’t come from slides or theories, but from being truly heard by another person.
A simple reminder that great leadership often starts with great listening.
When was the last time you truly listened, not to respond, but to understand?

Back in the Flow

After many years of working for myself, stepping into a bustling office with over 1,200 people has been quite a shift, not just in the environment itself, but in the new rhythm for me of travelling most days to Perth.

The pace of corporate life has returned to my life, and it is relentless!

Processes, procedures, and meetings stack up fast in my inbox and Teams.

Decisions are a constant, with priorities shifting continuously.

There is also a buzz, excitement and energy in the air too.

But amid all that motion, I’ve noticed there’s something more subtle happening.

Yesterday, I began observing a new leadership programme here at Aviva’s Perth office, a listed building built in the late 1970’s as an HQ for General Accident, with beautiful Japanese style gardens.

The Power of the Pause

As I watched people arrive, settle, and begin to engage, what stood out wasn’t just the structure of the sessions, it was the power of pausing.

In a corporate setting where everything runs at full tilt, it was fascinating to see people start to slow down and take some time to think.

To truly listen and engage.

To be and to stay present with each other.

It reminded me that effective leadership isn’t just about drive, oftentimes it’s much more about depth.

And sometimes, the most valuable progress happens when people stop rushing long enough to think clearly, connect genuinely, and reflect honestly.

Many were curious.

Others a little vulnerable.

Many were considering, maybe for the first time in a while, what kind of leader they really want to be and what was there why.

Rolling up my sleeves and getting stuck in has been both energising and tiring!

There’s momentum here, and excitement about what’s ahead and we’ve just begun the journey, as have I.

There’s also a hunger to lead the way.

But there’s also wisdom in making time to find some quiet space in the noise of corporate life, for thought, for perspective, for growth and importantly for slowing down.

It’s in the quietness there, in the thinking time, and in being fully present, that I can already see many finding their strength.

What might shift if you gave yourself more time to think and to pause more often?

Why I journal every day

Last week, I started a new chapter in my life with Aviva, joining the People Transformation and Talent team in Perth.
As a Leadership Facilitator, I’m part of a small team delivering an exciting new programme called “Lead the Way”, a people solution designed to shape and support leadership for the future.
In my first few days, as I’ve met with new colleagues, both individually and as a group, one theme keeps coming up: curiosity.
It’s something the CEO herself has mentioned constantly as I’ve listened to her messages.
It’s something we all seem to share.
One of the most frequent questions I’ve been asked is, “And what do you like to do?”
That’s led me to share something quite personal: my passion for journaling.
Since January 1st, 1978, I’ve kept a daily journal.
That’s over 17,000 + entries and it tends to surprise people, because it’s not exactly a common habit.
But for me, it’s a practice that has grown more valuable with time.
There’s something powerful about taking a moment each day to write down what matters.
It’s a place where I can treasure up the things that I’ve seen and heard.
The more I write, frequently, the more insights come.
Thoughts that might otherwise drift away take shape and stay with me.
And occasionally, it becomes even more useful than I expect.
That reminds me, last week, two friends asked me about a specific date in 1998. They needed a bit of detail from that day; I’d better check my journal for them!
Journaling helps me pay attention.
It’s where I record the things that mean the most in life.
It’s part reflection, part record-keeping and part therapy.
Many have written today about how journaling can benefit your mental health.
And it’s one of the most consistent sources of clarity I’ve known.
The best time to start journaling was yesterday, the next best time is today!
What’s one moment from this week you wouldn’t want to forget?

Unpredictable, and That’s Okay!

“Help me understand how this works for you?”
That’s a question I’ve used a lot in my coaching practice recently.
Especially when working with minds of all kinds, each one wired differently, each one worthy of being understood on its own terms.
There have been a few sessions where, being honest, I thought, “We didn’t go anywhere today.”
Lately, I’ve been learning to see those moments differently.
What’s changed?
I have been doing a bit of work with clients who are neurodivergent.
Those living with ADHD, Autism, anxiety, or simply a different way of processing the world.
I’ve realised: We always go somewhere.
…It just might not be where I expected, or how I expected to get there!
The pace of any progress is much less linear and far more unpredictable.
I’ve noticed that some clients speak in bursts, that are full of energy, with fast and fragmented thoughts being expressed simultaneously.
It’s often messy!
I hold that space without rushing to fill it or “tidy it up.”
And so, I adapt.
I shift.
I follow their cues.
Listening, observing even more.
I flex.
I slow down.
Interestingly, I’ve also noticed my own routines and habits more closely.
I’m growing curious about the ways my own neurodiverse traits and stress responses show up.
In many ways, it feels like I’m becoming a student again.
I used to think my job as a coach was to guide people to clarity.
But now, I wonder if it’s more about staying curious while they create their own clarity, in their own way, and most importantly, in their own time.
And as they evolve… so do I.
I’m still learning.
Who in your life might need you to slow down, adapt, and simply ask, “Help me understand how this works for you”?

Curious?

“How do I have better conversations?” the young missionary asked.
In response I said, “Be curious!”
We then roleplayed several conversations, restating and rephrasing words spoken, then asking further questions, by being 𝒄𝒖𝒓𝒊𝒐𝒖𝒔.
It was enlightening as we explored questions together.
Children tend to have it in abundance.
Curiosity has to be a personal practice.
Curiosity allows us to find out about another person’s reality, their views and their perspective.
Its easier said than done, but it takes humility and meekness, to escape the trap of thinking/feeling of “being right” at times, and see beyond our own thoughts.
To be really curious you need to see beyond what you think you know and become much more fascinated by the way others see things.
Consider every conversation as an opportunity to learn something new.
Curiosity requires that you become genuinely super interested in what the other person is thinking and saying.
It is important to slow down, be very present and take time to ask questions, listen and observe.
And you also need to suspend any judgements that you may be tempted to make!
Be inquisitive.
Ask others their opinions, their perspectives, and their approaches to certain things.
“I have no special talent. I am only passionately curious.” – Albert Einstein.
Curious minds are exploring minds.
Yesterday, I met a complete stranger and engaged with them on a personal level, by being curious about where they came from, why they were in Amsterdam, and simply showing some genuine interest in them.
It was a wonderful conversation, and we discovered some insightful connections.
I was simply being curious.
These are a few of my thoughts and ideas this morning.
I’d be really interested in hearing a few of yours.
How do you stay curious?