The Power of Curiosity in Leadership I Dr. Debra Clary

In this episode of the 40% Better Podcast, Bill Lennan sits down with Dr. Debra Clary, Founder & Leadership Advisor at The Clary Group, to explore the powerful connection between curiosity, leadership, performance, and personal growth. Dr. Debra Clary shares why curiosity is not simply an innate personality trait, but a skill and mindset that can be encouraged and developed. They discuss how curiosity impacts leadership performance, why organizations often unintentionally discourage curiosity, and how leaders can create a culture where asking questions, exploring ideas, and challenging assumptions are encouraged. The conversation also explores the neuroscience behind curiosity, learning, fear, and dopamine, including why curiosity can help reduce fear and unlock better thinking. Dr. Debra explains practical ways leaders can build curiosity into meetings, encourage teams to ask better questions, and create environments where people feel safe sharing their perspectives. Bill and Dr. Debra also discuss the role of curiosity in education, parenting, conversations, social anxiety, and personal development. Bill shares his own journey of overcoming social anxiety through a structured system of small, repeatable steps and explains how learning to talk with strangers transformed his approach to networking, job interviews, public speaking, and everyday conversations. Whether you're a leader, entrepreneur, manager, educator, or simply someone interested in becoming more curious and confident, this episode offers practical insights into how curiosity can help you learn faster, lead better, and improve performance. In this episode, you'll learn about: * Why curiosity can be learned and developed * The connection between curiosity and leadership performance * How curiosity influences the brain and learning * Why fear and curiosity cannot easily coexist * How leaders can create a culture of curiosity * Practical ways to encourage questions in teams and meetings * Why leaders don't need to have all the answers * How curiosity can improve resilience and problem-solving * The importance of curiosity in children and education * How to encourage better conversations in a screen-driven world * The connection between curiosity and social confidence * How small, repeatable habits can help overcome social anxiety * Why experimentation and failure are essential for innovation * How curiosity can help individuals and organizations perform better About Dr. Debra Clary: Dr. Debra Cl