I wrote this because I’ve learned the hard way that strategy doesn’t start with answers. It starts with curiosity, discomfort, and the courage to be wrong in front of your team.
I was heartened and honestly, a bit relieved, to see the results of Harvard Business Impact’s 2025 Global Leadership Development Study. A majority of people surveyed want their leaders to demonstrate and communicate more strategy and creativity. Not just manage change but lead it. Not just support innovation but provoke it. That’s a shift I’ve been waiting for.
In my own leadership journey, I found the magic wasn’t in having all the answers. It was in two deceptively simple practices:
- Modeling curiosity
- Provoking conversations
When leaders show curiosity — real, open-ended, “I might be wrong” curiosity — it creates a safe space for teammates to challenge ideas, question decisions, and surface problems before they stall progress. When we provoke conversations (not just host meetings), we invite people to co-create strategy, not just execute it.
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AI tools can help here. I’ve used them to generate personas, tone shifts, and even devil’s advocate prompts to stretch my thinking. But the real strength still comes from the people closest to the work. That’s where insight lives.
So, here’s my invitation as we step into the new year: be open to learning, be willing to be wrong publicly, and be aware of your natural defensiveness when challenged
Let’s make 2026 the year we lead with curiosity and build cultures where strategy and creativity aren’t just expected — they’re practiced daily. Here are 4 steps you can use now to start with:
- Ask your team: “What’s one assumption we should challenge this quarter?”
- Use AI to simulate alternative perspectives — then test them with your team
- Share a moment when you changed your mind — and what it taught you
- Create space for disagreement without penalty
I’d love to hear how you’re building these capabilities in your own leadership practice. What’s working? What’s hard? What’s next? And if you’re looking to map out a strategy or build these skills into your team’s rhythm, I’m always glad to help.
#LeadershipDevelopment #StrategicThinking #CuriosityCulture #AIInLeadership #LeadershipStrategy
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Bill Ryan
Bridging Distance, Building Excellence – As founder and CEO of Ryan Consulting, I transform how organizations thrive in remote and virtual environments.
For over 25 years, I’ve been fascinated by one question: How do we create extraordinary connection and performance when teams aren’t in the same room? This question has guided my career helping organizations harness the full potential of their distributed workforce.
My approach is refreshingly practical. I align what I call the 3P’s—Purpose, People, and Process—creating frameworks where remote teams don’t just function, they flourish. In today’s landscape of rapid change, this alignment isn’t just helpful—it’s your competitive edge.
Working together, we’ll craft solutions precisely calibrated to your organization’s unique challenges. Whether through customized workshops on performance support, process refinement, mobile solutions, or organizational effectiveness, I bring proven strategies that deliver measurable results.
My greatest satisfaction comes from watching leaders, teams, and individuals discover they can collaborate more effectively across distance than they ever thought possible. In a world of constant change, that’s not just good business—it’s transformational.
Ready to reimagine what your remote workforce can achieve? Let’s connect.