Leading Transformation with Purpose
Transformation isn’t about fixing what’s broken—rather it’s an ongoing process of growth and adaptation, where learning, experimentation, and recalibration are key.
In this month’s blog series, we’ll explore how leaders can unlock hidden insights by slowing down and asking the right questions, take on the challenge of letting go to create space for new possibilities, and build trust and authentic connection to lead transformation with purpose.
Each blog will offer practical tips and examples to help you guide your team through the messy, rewarding journey of transformation. Let’s begin with the power of Deep Enquiry in leading transformation.
Deep Enquiry – Unlocking Hidden Truths to Enable Transformation
Imagine this scenario - The pressure is rising, your team is struggling to meet its goals, stakeholders are challenging the timeliness of responses and the goal posts feel like they are constantly moving. You’ve been called into a meeting where tensions are high; as you listen to the concerns and issues raised, instinctively you try to restore order by accessing your expertise and offer solutions and quick fixes. But beneath the surface lies a deeper challenge, one that can’t be solved with technical expertise alone.
This is where the power of Deep Enquiry comes into play.
The Story Behind the Symptoms
Change deals with what’s visible, a process that needs fixing or a problem that demands immediate action. However, transformation is different. It asks leaders to slow down, question their assumptions, and dig beneath the surface to uncover what’s really going on. Often, it’s not the missed deadlines or the friction between team members that matter most, but the unspoken dynamics or outdated mindsets holding the team back.
Listening to Ignite New Thinking
A leader skilled in Deep Enquiry doesn’t rush in with answers. Instead, they listen - not to respond, but to ignite new thinking. This kind of listening is transformative as it creates a space where people feel safe to explore their ideas and emotions without fear of judgment.
Imagine you sitting quietly while a colleague wrestles with a challenge....
Instead of interrupting, you hold space. Slowly, they uncover their own insights.
This moment of clarity would never have come if you had jumped in too soon.
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Practicing Deep Enquiry in Leadership
The magic of transformation begins when leaders ask “What’s really going on here?” and remain open to multiple perspectives, wherever they may lead. Some of the most profound insights emerge not from expertise, but from curiosity and humility. Here are a few ways to spark new ideas:
- Ask living questions: What if you held onto questions longer instead of rushing to solve them?
- Seek the unexpected: Who in your team might have a perspective you haven’t considered=?
- Embrace the unknown: Can you make peace with not having all the answers just yet?
Deep Enquiry encourages us to shift from reacting to reflecting, opening space for insights that might otherwise stay hidden. This week, we invite you to hold onto questions a little longer, explore unexpected perspectives, and look beyond the first answer to discover what lies beneath—and notice what unfolds when you do.
Please join us next week to explore the challenging practice of Let it Go and Let it Come.
"Curiosity is the spark behind the spark of every great idea. The future belongs to the curious." — Anonymous
Photos by Fluid Imagery, Adventures ofmalfives and Kyle Peyton on Unsplash
