Human Skills: Trust · Step 4: Sustain · Let's Practice!
Curiosity
Trade the verdict for a question — and watch the moment change
Sustaining trust over the long haul is tiring. One way to lighten the load: when a challenge hits, make curiosity your first response instead of blame. The book puts it simply —
Wow! That happened! I wonder why… And I wonder how I can make it better next time.
Curiosity doesn't excuse what went wrong. It just keeps you out of the blame spiral long enough to actually learn something — and it keeps the door to trust open. First you'll see two worked examples. Then you'll try two of your own.
About 6 minutes · There's no grade here — just practice.
Two worked examples
Your turn · Rewrite
Write the blame-free, curious version — in your own words. Start from wonder, ask why, and look toward next time.
Meeting a setback with curiosity instead of blame is a response — and it's one you can choose every single time.
Trust = consistent Responses to Challenges over Time
A team learns fast whether their leader's first move is to hunt for a culprit or to hunt for a cause. The leader who stays curious under pressure is the one people keep bringing the truth to.
Now head back to the book and the Curiosity reflection: what would it look like to be curious about a challenge you're facing?