Making Curiosity Your Leadership Superpower

By Jennifer McCrickerd, LifeBound Director of Academic Leader Development, Jan 15, 2026

Moving from "The Right Answer" to Genuine Inquiry

In my coaching work, I often return to the work of Carol Dweck (Self-Theories and Mindset) and and Susan Blum (I Love Learning; I Hate School) because they explain a fundamental shift in attitudes toward learning.

Humans are naturally curious—we love to explore and learn. Until about third grade. In the US, this is often the moment when letter grades and standardized testing are introduced, and school becomes a chore. The focus shifts from "learning goals" to "performance goals." This leads to my students bemoaning: “I don’t have time to learn; I have to get good grades.”

The Expert's Dilemma

I bring this up because those of us who end up in academia are, with rare exceptions, the ones who won that game. We knew how to get good grades and shine in our area of expertise.

We’ve built careers on providing the right answers. But this well-developed muscle of expertise comes at a cost: it leaves our capacity for genuine curiosity under-developed.

We see this in the "Comment-Not-A-Question" trap. Our reliance on expertise constrains our ability to be publicly open to not knowing. Instead of asking questions to learn, we may ask masked assertions. We have all heard (or said), “Actually, this is more of a comment than a question.” This is a participatory move, but it does not create the open space for conversation that genuine curiosity can.

The Coaching Solution

Coaching provides the discipline to reverse this. It transforms curiosity from a fleeting personality trait into a strategic superpower.

Expand Capacity: Coaching builds the muscle to pause, suppress the urge to be the "good student" with the right answer, and choose the inquiry instead. It doesn't abandon our analytic eye; it gives it room to breathe.
Build Trust: There is a vast difference between Socratic interrogation (where the asker knows the destination) and genuine curiosity (which feels like a partnership). One has to wonder: if Socrates had been less performative and more genuinely curious, might he have avoided the hemlock?

The Shift

We spent a lifetime learning to be the expert in the room. The invitation now is to take on the work of becoming the most curious person in the room—not to replace the skills that got us here, but to expand what is possible for us, our colleagues, and our students.

LifeBound coaching courses can help you build the practical skills to make that shift and turn curiosity into your most effective leadership tool.

We offer flexible and affordable coaching training for faculty, academic coaches, and staff, including:

3-Day Virtual Coaching Course - Next Class: Feb 23, 25, 27
Self-Paced Coaching Course - Take anytime!
LifeBound Coaching Certification - Spring Cohort begins Jan 27

To learn more or explore which option is right for you, visit www.lifebound.com.

Visit Our Website

Make 2026 the Year Coaching Solves Higher Ed’s Toughest Challenges

Higher education is grappling with unprecedented challenges—rising mental health crises, the need for greater career readiness, and the unfortunate reality that many students struggle to secure meaningful employment or are let go shortly after starting. These issues affect not only individual students but also university outcomes like enrollment, retention, and long-term institutional success.

By equipping your staff with coaching training, you can help students build resilience, achieve meaningful employment, and address many challenges that universities face today. Allocate your budget toward LifeBound’s training options this year and plan ahead to ensure your institution is prepared to address these critical needs effectively. Let’s create a campus-wide culture of coaching and make an impact!

LifeBound offers multiple ways to train academic coaches, faculty, or staff:

3-Day Virtual Coaching Course

A dynamic, interactive course focused on practical coaching techniques.

NEXT CLASS: February 23, 25, 27

March 6, 13, 20

April 10, 17, 24

May 1, 8, 15

more dates online >

Time: 3 days, 6 hours each

Format: Online

Cost: $1,500 per person. Contact us about group rates.

___________________________

Self-Paced Coaching Course for Academic, Personal, and Professional Success

A flexible, 15-hour program designed for those who want to deepen their skills at their own pace. The course dives deep into foundational and advanced coaching techniques as well as motivation, resilience, career readiness, cultural competence and coaching diverse student populations, and includes private sessions with a LifeBound Coach. Institutional packages are available for group training.

Choose Your Own Dates!

Time: 15 hours (self-paced), plus 3 hours with LifeBound Coach

Format: Online

Cost: $1,500 per person. If you’ve already completed the 1-Day or 3-Day program, email contact@lifebound.com to receive a discount code for $500 off the new Self-Paced Course. Contact us about group rates.

___________________________

LifeBound Certification Program

For coaches ready to take their skills to the next level, the LifeBound Certification Program offers an in-depth dive into advanced coaching practices and strategies, culminating in certification as a LifeBound Coach.

Spring, Summer, and Fall Cohorts

Spring 2026 Cohort begins Jan 27 (Register by Jan 20)

Format: Online or in-person as available

Cost: $5,000 per person

___________________________

Let’s make this a year of transformation for your institution and the students you serve!

Learn More at lifebound.com