2. Certainty & Curiosity
Certainty & Curiosity
Personal
One thing I’ve learnt through leadership is that you need both certainty and curiosity.
Curiosity helps you understand what’s actually going on.
Questions like:
What are we missing?
Who sees this differently?
Is there a better way forward?
The best leaders I’ve been around are genuinely curious. They ask questions, gather information and listen before they make decisions.
But there are also moments where people don’t need more discussion.
They need clarity.
In rugby, after conceding points or when momentum is against you, nobody is looking for another debate. They’re looking for direction.
What’s the plan?
What are we doing next?
Who’s responsible?
That’s where certainty matters.
Not because the leader has all the answers, but because people perform better when they know where to focus.
Over the years I’ve learnt that leadership isn’t choosing one or the other.
It’s knowing which one the moment requires.
Team
The best teams move between both really well.
Sometimes leadership is:
Giving direction
Simplifying things
Connecting people around a common goal
Other times it’s:
Asking questions
Gathering information
Listening to the people closest to the problem
Too much certainty creates rigidity.
Too much curiosity creates confusion.
Good teams hold both.
They know when to explore and when to commit.
Final Thought
The best leaders I’ve seen are clear on what the group needs.
But curious enough to keep asking how to get there.
That’s the balance.
Certainty gives people confidence.
Curiosity helps them find a better way.
