Why Authentic Curiosity Is Key to the New Leadership Playbook

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Welcome to the twenty second article in the series “Be the Leader You Aspire to Be” here on The Price of Business Show, where I will focus on the trends which lie ahead of us and how they will affect humans and businesses. The articles are based on my book Energetic Leadership, which talks about 9 trends leaders must navigate to cater for employees increasing demand for more spiritual leadership and sustainable business models aligned with their life purposes. These articles are about business leadership in the new era. I hope you will find inspiration for your own leadership and the leader you aspire to be.

The last articles have outlined 9 trends for business leadership and focused on authentic curiosity as a key competency for leaders to master. They have explained the concept of energy frequencies as the source of our true potential, followed by the alignment of the company’s purpose with the life purposes of employees and customers.

They have covered the 6-5 different generations currently working, focused on self-care and the ability to be present and what uncertainty was about and how to navigate in it. They have talked about the importance of intuition in decision-making and what a healthy economy and society are and how we all can improve democracy.

The articles have looked at customer journeys built on healthy energy and how intuition and resilience can improve productivity. They have been about the world as a mirror of how we are doing as multi-dimensional humans and what we do with true AI. And they have been about the change of Change Management both in terms of timelines and content and the urgent need for a new Leadership Playbook which is about people first and foremost.

This article is about why authentic curiosity is key to a new leadership playbook. It is important, so we do not get stuck in our old and new fear. We need to get out of the mud. We need our authentic curiosity to drive us out of the swamp.

Authentic curiosity is key to the new leadership playbook because it fosters adaptability, trust, and innovation—traits that are essential in today’s fast-changing, complex environments. Here’s why it matters so much:

1: It promotes a growth mindset so we can leave the old, fixed mindset. Leaders who are genuinely curious are more open to learning, feedback, and experimentation. This helps them and their teams evolve instead of clinging to outdated models or ego-driven certainty.

2: It builds stronger relationships so we can succeed together. Authentic curiosity signals that a leader genuinely cares about others’ perspectives and experiences. This builds psychological safety and trust, encouraging openness and collaboration.

3: It enables better decision-making, which is important in a fast-paced world. Curious leaders ask more questions and consider diverse viewpoints. This leads to more informed decisions, especially in complex or ambiguous situations – like we have now surrounded by wicked problems and behavior no one has experienced before.

4: It drives innovation when the gateway to our intuition is open. Curiosity challenges the status quo and explores new possibilities. Leaders who model curiosity create cultures where creativity thrives, and team members feel safe to take risks.

5: It enhances adaptability when we are open to using both our rational mind and knowledge and our intuitive wisdom. In rapidly changing markets or uncertain conditions, leaders must be comfortable not knowing all the answers. Curiosity keeps them agile and responsive rather than rigid and reactive. And we must remember a very important thing – in the new era we cannot and shall not figure it out.

I have named the new Leadership Model – Energetic Leadership – which is when modern life design collides with old leadership habits it is time to change and tap into intuition and unleash the energetic sense of the future. It is a movement, a concept, a model, a book about how we walk on two feet using both our intuitive and rational energies and intelligence together.

Right now, people, structures, organizations and businesses, even societies are collapsing to rise again in a new form and shape. The process or transformation is not always nice to watch or being part of, but it is necessary. We need each other in that process for help and support but also because we become each other’s mentors. Having said that, not all organizations are fit to survive.

In essence, authentic curiosity shifts leadership from command-and-control to connect-and-collaborate where the individual is the source.

Gitte Madelaire is an intuitive and visionary pioneer in leadership development. People, customers, business development, and futurism have always interested and motivated her. With a background in corporate business at companies such as Fona/HMW, Codan Insurance, Volvo Trucks and Ensure, she now inspires to new leadership through her book,” Energetic Leadership”, keynotes, facilitation and mentoring for leaders in her company Bronte ApS. Gitte holds a BSc in Business Administration from Copenhagen Business School and an MBA semester from the University of Victoria. She also has traditional leadership courses and certifications in intuitive and feminine future leadership, inner sustainability, and energy-based leadership. Gitte has lived in London, Sydney, and Kuala Lumpur and currently resides in Denmark.

Learn more at www.energeticleadership.eu.