Get Curious

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What Do You Want, Really

Take a moment and ask yourself this: What do you truly want from your career?

Not what others expect of you, not what seems logical or achievable—what do you genuinely desire? Too often, our aspirations are shaped by social norms or other people's opinions. Curiosity demands us to go deeper, to explore beyond what's on the surface.

Only when you dare to listen to yourself can you chart a path that’s uniquely yours.

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Challenge the Defaults

When was the last time you questioned your career path?

Many of us follow an invisible script, moving from one promotion to the next without ever pausing to ask why. Get curious about what you’re saying "yes" to and what you might need to say "no" to. Are you following this route because it’s right for you, or because it's the default option?

Curiosity is the key to breaking free from autopilot.

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Envision Your Future

Imagine your ideal workday five years from now.

Who are you working with? What are you doing? What's lighting you up? Visualizing your future helps you break out of the constraints of the present and invites you to imagine possibilities.

Getting curious about your future is the first step to making it real.

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Insight

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Inconvenient Truths

Research from Tasha Eurich suggests that while 95% of people think they’re self-aware, only about 10-15% actually are.

One reason for this gap is that genuine self-awareness requires uncomfortable honesty. We have to challenge our assumptions about ourselves and be open to what we might discover. It’s not easy, but for those willing to explore, self-awareness can be a powerful career catalyst. Maybe today's the day you acknowledge that you want more.

The difference between those who grow and those who stagnate often lies in a willingness to face inconvenient truths.

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The Power of Reflective Practice

Reflective practice is one of the most undervalued tools in career development.

According to research from the Harvard Business School, people who reflect on their work experiences perform better than those who don’t. Reflection helps integrate learning and helps you evaluate if what you want and are doing are actually in alignment. It’s not about spending hours journaling—even a five-minute reflection at the end of the day can lead to deeper insights.

Your career path is clearer when you consistently take time to pause and reflect

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Career Experiments

We tend to think that growth happens linearly.

However, it's more often the result of small experiments. Herminia Ibarra argues that people grow through action, not planning (Working Identity). Trying out new roles, projects, or even hobbies helps us discover latent skills and interests.

These experiments bring insight that reflection alone can’t provide.

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Action

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Conduct a Career Audit

Conduct a career audit to understand where you currently stand.

List out your recent career decisions, and note the motivations behind each one. Are they driven by passion, security, pressure, or curiosity? Assess whether these decisions align with what you genuinely want.

Doing this audit will reveal any disconnects between your actions and your deeper goals.

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Experiment with Small Shifts

Don’t wait for massive opportunities to make changes—start small.

Identify a project, a task, or even a side hustle that excites you and dive in. Small shifts often lead to the greatest momentum, particularly when they align with your curiosity and strengths. These experiments are not about succeeding or failing; they’re about learning.

The insights gained through small steps can guide your next big move.

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Have an Accountability Partner

Find someone who will join you in holding yourself accountable for your growth.

Share your goals with them and set regular check-ins to discuss your progress. It could be a coach or even a trusted friend. Accountability helps you stay committed and provides an external perspective to keep you grounded.

True growth is about investing in yourself while having the courage to invite others to support you and share in that journey.

Thank you for joining me this week. Feel free to forward this to someone who might benefit from it and remember: Take time to invest in yourself—because your growth is just as important as the growth of those you lead.

Here’s to leading with purpose and curiosity (for ourselves and our teams)!

Cheers,

Del

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