Curiosity has served me well throughout my communications career.
I grew up in corporate communications departments where I had access to people across the business — and I used that access. I’d meet regularly with colleagues in marketing, HR, legal, investor relations, sales, and product development to understand what was happening across the organization.
Part of it was natural curiosity. I wanted to know, well, everything.
But I soon realized that it made me so much better at my job.
The more I understood about the business, the better equipped I was to spot opportunities, respond to threats, and uncover the details that often become the foundation for stronger messaging, sharper stories, and more strategic communications. And I used that knowledge to great effect with leaders who grew to appreciate my insights, opinions, and ideas.
It’s a practice I’ve carried into my consulting work, and it shapes how I serve clients today.
Over the years, I’ve learned that the details people tend to dismiss as minor are often the very things that make communications more meaningful and effective. I’ve also learned that the best insight doesn’t come from the official talking points — it comes from a thoughtful question, a follow-up, or a conversation with someone a layer or two below the top.
This is why curiosity is not a soft skill in our field. It is a strategic one.
When we stay curious, we ask better questions. We think more critically. We solve problems more creatively. And we become more valuable to the leaders and organizations we support.
If you’re a communications professional, I encourage you to strive beyond surface-level understanding.
Create a rhythm for connecting with people across the business. Talk to leaders, yes, but don’t stop there. Listen for the stories, tensions, patterns, and perspectives others might overlook.
Ask questions like:
- Why does your work matter to you?
- How do you think what you do contributes to the success of the company?
- What challenges are you navigating right now?
- What do you think the world should better understand about the company?
- What voices or influences shape how you think?
The more you know about clients or colleagues, teams, customers, and the industries they serve, the stronger advisor you become.
Stay curious.
It will sharpen your instincts, deepen your thinking, and strengthen the work!
How I’m Helping Communicators, Leaders, and Teams Today
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