Yesterday I had a film session with SkillSoft, a company that provides online video training. They were also filming Ram Charan, one of the foremost management consultants and leadership gurus in the world. Over the next few days I will share some of the bits of wisdom I gleaned from my time with him.

I find it interesting that recently I wrote about curiosity being the best trait a salesperson can have, and yesterday Ram Charan told me that Jack Welch was the most curious CEO he has ever seen. Given that Jack Welch is one of the most celebrated CEOs I think there must be something to this.

Ram was very clear that this was an invaluable trait for Welch, but our conversation flowed elsewhere. I never asked the follow-up question – Why is curiosity so valuable for a leader?

So here’s my own take.

Curiosity about your people helps you discover their best ideas. It helps you understand what is happening in their world. It also brings out their best. If they know you are going to ask them questions, they will be more prepared. Your best employees will be more eager to speak with you.

Curiosity about your business helps you discover your strengths and weaknesses and make adjustments. It gets you out of group think and acceptance of status quo.

Curiosity about the world around you helps you discover changes in your industry that will affect your organization. It helps you react quickly to crises, limit losses, and take advantage of opportunities.