The Curiosity Quest: Creating Teams that Thrive with Shannon Waller
Team strategist Shannon Waller says the things that actually make people thrive together aren't the org chart. They're trust, curiosity, and love, the ingredients most people overlook.
▶ Watch the full episode with Shannon Waller for deeper context on how to approach these questionsHow Well You Know You
Shannon trusts people only as far as they truly know themselves. So write it out plainly: how you naturally work, what you're genuinely great at, and what drains you. Then notice, was that easy to write, or did you have to guess at parts?
Where Curiosity Went Quiet
Shannon says curiosity is natural in us but gets covered up when we're tired, overwhelmed, or scared. Where in your life lately have you stopped asking questions and started just reacting? And what was the thing that covered it up?
Curious, Not Judging
Think of one person you keep quietly judging instead of getting curious about. If you swapped 'what's wrong with them' for 'what don't I understand about them yet,' what's a real question you'd actually ask them?
Skilled Versus Lit Up
Shannon says between someone merely skilled and someone who loves the work, you bet on the one who cares, because that's where the energy comes from. Where in your own work are you skilled but flat, and where do you actually come alive?
Show One Person You're For Them
Shannon says trust grows when people know you're genuinely for them, not just managing them. Pick one person. What's one concrete thing you'll do that shows them you're on their side (a real question, a thank-you, a piece of help they didn't ask for)?