By: Adrian Jones

What I’ve Learned About Leading With Curiosity Instead of Control

There was a time when I thought leadership meant decisiveness: knowing the plan, communicating it clearly, and sticking to it.

But the more I worked with high-performing teams in fast-moving environments, the more I realized something important: it’s not about having all the answers. It’s about knowing which questions to ask.

Over the years, I’ve come to believe that inquiry, not certainty, is the key to resilient leadership.

Why “Having the Answer” Is No Longer Enough

Many leaders were trained, whether explicitly or implicitly, to lead with answers. Yet, in complex systems and evolving workplaces, those answers may become outdated before they can be acted on, or lack critical context.

We’re not operating in predictable environments anymore. Change is no longer a moment, but the medium we move through. 

And here’s what I see across organizations:

• Strategy isn’t sticking
  
• Mid-level leaders are burned out
  
• Trust in “the next plan” is low
  

What’s needed now isn’t stronger messaging or better forecasting. It’s better sensing – and that starts with better questions.

The Shift That Changed My Leadership

A few years ago, I read something that reframed my thinking. McKinsey described high-performing teams not as visionary, but as consistent in this cycle:

Do. Monitor. Diagnose.

That rhythm – observe, adjust, align – felt familiar.

Before I stepped into leadership development, I played World of Warcraft competitively. The best players weren’t those who guessed right from the start. They were the ones who could process feedback in real time. Respond. Evolve. Recalibrate.

I think great leaders do the same. They assess, plan, act – then reassess, recalibrate, act. They ask what’s true now, and how we move from here. What have we learned, how can we iterate to do better.

Three Ways I Practice Question-Led Leadership

These are the habits I’ve built over time—and the ones I coach other leaders to adopt:

1. Clarify the Outcome Before Offering a Direction

Instead of reacting quickly, I ask:

• “What are we actually trying to solve?”
  
• “Where is the urgency coming from?”
  
• “What’s the risk of doing nothing?”
  

This keeps teams focused on understanding before action.

2. Use Questions to Detect Disconnect

When leaders say their teams are checked out or unclear, I often suggest they ask:

• “If you were a consultant, what would you tell us to stop doing?”
  
• “What’s a friction point we haven’t named?”
  
• “What are you hearing that I’m not?”
  

These questions create space for context and trust.

3. Normalize Reflective Debriefing

After a decision or change, I’ll ask:

• “What worked?”
  
• “What surprised us?”
  
• “What do we want to watch going forward?”

I created a sign for my desk that reads “Iteration is perfection.” Consistent improvement is the best way to get sustained results.

You Can Hone Your Strategic Practice

Most leaders know they need to be more adaptive, but they haven’t had space to practice how. They’re caught between the pressure to have answers and the reality that the best answers emerge from better questions.

The questions I’ve shared – the ones that help you sense what’s happening, diagnose what’s needed, and recalibrate your approach – can be developed as strategic thinking skills.

That’s why we created Strategy Lab. It’s designed for leaders who want to strengthen their capacity to think strategically when they’re in the middle of complexity and change.

What Happens in Strategy Lab

In Strategy Lab, experienced leaders spend five weeks developing the thinking habits that let them navigate complexity with clarity. It’s practical and hands-on, rooted in real leadership challenges.

We explore how to:

• Ask questions that reveal both tension and possibility
• Shift from reactive problem-solving to proactive sense-making
• Communicate strategy so it actually guides decisions
• Adjust your leadership presence as conditions evolve

It’s space to practice what strategic leadership actually requires: clear thinking, clear communication, and the ability to recalibrate without losing direction.

If you’re ready to lead with curiosity instead of control – and you want to develop the strategic thinking skills that make that possible – you can learn more at www.successlabs.com/classes