Leadership is a lifelong journey. There is no arrival.

In my first job as a manager, I needed to learn giving constructive feedback, and as soon as possible. I liked to postpone the more difficult conversations.

In my first job as a manager of managers, I needed to learn how to grow the managers into leaders. And how to let go of things, over and over again.

In my first job as a manager of middle managers, I needed to learn how to guide and enroll them in my vision.

And of course this leadership learning curve didn’t stop. During the next step in my career – an interim and turnaround manager – I needed to learn more.

Every position offers a chance to learn something new. And of course growing as a leader doesn’t require promotions. Growing as a leader also doesn’t require the word “manager” in your title.

So, wouldn’t it be great if you can speed up your growth as a leader?

But the real question is of course, does such a magic wand exist?

No, a magic wand to speed up leadership growth doesn’t exist. Researchers, however, have found one aspect that speeds up learning.

And that aspect is a hungry mind or curiosity.

Curiosity is a basic component of human nature. That explains why we can spend hours on the internet or play endlessly games like Trivia.

Curiosity might have killed the cat but it won’t kill your leadership.

It’s good to be curious. Within limits of course. You don’t want to become the all knower, gossiping ……. of the leadership world.

Benjamin Hayden of the University of Rochester researches how our brains compare different options and choose the most rewarding option. Curiosity plays a major role in that. According to Hayden curiosity activates the learning systems of the brain.

That’s why the most curious people learn the best.

So, embrace your curiosity. It accelerates your capacity to learn.

And curiosity does more.

Research has shown that curiosity can make you a more empathetic person. Sincere interest in an employee’s life, experiences, and worldviews helps you to understand that person better. Also curiosity – sincere curiosity – makes you more attractive and warmer leader.

So, be sincere and respectfully curious as a leader and learn.