The One Thing Good Leaders Have in Common

Over the years I’ve worked in various industries — childcare, content strategy, influencer marketing, even a tax office when I was younger. I’ve worked under good leaders and bad leaders. I’ve been a good leader and a bad leader. Across all of those experiences, I can identify one truth — good leaders ask the right questions.

One of the worst leaders I’ve ever had, made assumptions instead of asking questions. She’d insert her opinion and offer solutions without asking for context. And when she did ask questions, they weren’t smart or insightful — they were condescending, typical, or irrelevant. She missed the point every time. Not because she wasn’t smart. But because she didn’t lead with curiosity.

As I move deeper into my work as a creative producer, I’m understanding that being curious and asking the right questions are my greatest assets when telling a good story. When someone sits down in front of me to tell their story, the story is already inside of them. My job isn’t to create it. My job is to ask the right questions and create space for the answers.

My work in storytelling is rooted in curiosity — and so are the leaders whose stories I get to tell.

It’s how they got started — a wonder about a new way to do something, a curiosity about how to serve their communities better, a thought about a need that hadn’t been met. As a producer, it’s my honor to be curious about their stories, create space for them to tell it, and connect them even deeper to those who need them.

Curiosity is the foundation of good leadership, good storytelling, and good humanity. When we fail to ask the right questions — in a boardroom, on a film set, or in a one-on-one — we miss the story. We miss the soul of the person we’re trying to lead, serve, or see.

Curiosity isn’t just a skill you can learn. It requires something intrinsic — a genuine interest in the humanity of the person in front of you and a belief that their story connects to all of ours.

Many leaders are told to say more. To show up loud. To prove they belong in the room. But good leadership doesn’t need to announce itself. It can show up humbly and still prove its worthiness.

The leaders who get that right change things. The ones who don’t, don’t.