What is it that sets the CEO apart from everyone else? And in particular, what is it that sets the best CEOs apart from their peers? Adam Bryant, in a great article I recently read (read it here) draws on his interviews with over 500 CEOs to help answer those questions. While a range of traits like ambition, confidence and high IQ spring top mind, the one thing that rose to the top of the list was applied curiosity. Bryant describes this as
“…engaging in relentless questioning to understand how things work. And then they start wondering how those things could be made to work better. They approach everything with an inquiring mind-set”
These top CEOS had developed this habit so that it became “as natural as breathing”. It also meant, found Bryant, that some leaders had to unlearn what they already knew in order to explore the what-if scenarios of an uncertain future. Bryant is also very clear that this is a discipline that can be developed over time, with the first step being to just ask the question of “why?”
While this habit won’t guarantee you will be the next CEO of your organisation, it will help you develop you career.