How Curiosity Makes You a Better Leader (and Maybe More Fun at Parties)

Have you ever heard the phrase, “Curiosity killed the cat?”

It sounds like a warning, doesn’t it? Like the cat should have just minded its own business and taken a nap instead of poking around where it didn’t belong.

Here’s the part most people don’t know: the full saying is actually, “Curiosity killed the cat—but satisfaction brought it back.”

Now that’s a twist. Turns out curiosity didn’t kill the cat after all—it just sent it on a meaningful quest for answers.

I didn’t learn that second half until college. Growing up, I only heard the first part—probably because I was the kid who never stopped asking questions. (If my parents had a dollar for every time they heard “why,” they could have funded my education right then and there.)

Looking back, that curiosity is probably what led me to study journalism—so I could ask questions for a living and not get in trouble for it.

Here’s what I’ve learned since: Curiosity isn’t a weakness—it’s a superpower, especially in leadership and communication.

The best leaders listen more than they speak and ask better questions, so they uncover insights that others miss.

Because let’s be honest: the smartest person in the room isn’t the one with all the answers—it’s the one asking the most interesting questions. Try asking questions that—

Uncover insights: “What’s the biggest obstacle we’re not seeing?”

Invite ownership: “What do you think we should do?”

Foster learning: “What did we learn from this?”

This week, instead of offering your opinion in a conversation, try asking a question.

Curiosity doesn’t just spark answers—it builds connection.