The Executive Curiosity Tour: How to Get Meaningful, Honest Insights from Employees

The Curiosity Tour: Your Shortcut to Real Insight

You get curious about something that doesn’t feel right and dig in to take a closer look. “Wait… how long has this been happening?”

And then comes the obvious question: why didn’t anyone speak up?

In our research for our book Courageous Cultures, we found five common reasons people hold back concerns and ideas.

• They don’t think leadership really wants their ideas
• No one is asking
• They lack confidence
• They’re not sure how to speak up effectively
• Or they don’t believe anything will change anyway

One way to get better insights is to go out and see it.

What is a Curiosity Tour? (Asking For a Friend “Down Under” Video)

A curiosity tour is a simple leadership practice:

You go out and observe what’s happening—with the intention to understand, not judge.

You’re looking for:

• What’s getting in people’s way
• How work is actually getting done
• Where collaboration is strong (or strained)
• Small best practices that deserve more attention

In a Courageous Culture, these insights don’t stay hidden.

People speak up.
They share ideas.
They solve problems.

The Mistake That Shuts It All Down

When you see something that feels wonky, it’s easy to jump into fix it mode.

You see something inefficient. Notice a workaround. Or spot a problem you know how to solve.

And before you know it, you’re coaching, correcting, or redirecting. Which can be great, but not what a curiosity tour is all about. 

Because the moment people feel evaluated, they start managing what you see.

If you want people to contribute ideas, share concerns, and advocate for customers, they have to believe it’s safe—and useful—to speak up.

How to Run a Curiosity Tour That Works

Start with a clear intention:

“I’m here to understand what’s helping and what’s getting in the way.”

Then, stay in observation mode.

Ask questions like:

• “Can you walk me through how this works?”
• “What makes this harder than it needs to be?”
• “What’s working really well that others could learn from?”
• “If you could change one thing, what would it be?”

Notice both:

• The big, obvious patterns
• The small, scrappy solutions people have figured out

Those small improvements are what we call microinnovations—the everyday ideas that make work easier, faster, and better for customers.

The Discipline of Staying Curious

Here’s the part that takes practice:

You will see things that frustrate you.

Stay curious anyway.

Because curiosity and judgment can’t occupy the same space.

And the moment you switch into “fixing,” you lose access to what’s really going on.

When leaders consistently respond with curiosity, something powerful happens:

People stop playing it safe.
They start sharing what they see.
They begin to take ownership for making things better.

That’s how you shift from safe silence to consistent contribution.

Don’t Skip This Step

After your curiosity tour, don’t rush to conclusions.

Step back and look for themes.

Then come back to your team and say:

“Here’s what I’m noticing…”

And follow it with:

“What are you seeing that I might be missing?”

This is where curiosity becomes culture.

Because now you’re not just observing—you’re inviting people to think with you.

Why Curiosity Tours Matter More Than Ever

A Courageous Culture isn’t built with posters or suggestion boxes.

It’s built when “people like us” speak up, share ideas, and solve problems together.

Curiosity tours reinforce that norm.

They tell your team:

• I want to understand what’s really happening
• I trust your perspective
• Your ideas matter

And when people believe that?

You get better ideas.
Earlier problem-solving.
Stronger ownership.
And a team that’s actively working to make things better—not just get through the day.

Try This

The next time you’re in the business, resist the urge to fix.

Instead, go on a curiosity tour.

Look for what’s getting in the way.
Notice what’s working.
Pay attention to patterns.

Then ask yourself:

“What am I learning here that I couldn’t see from my office?”

You might find the answers have been there all along.

When have you gotten your best insight by simply staying curious?

See Also: Great Skip Level Meetings: 5 Strategic Approaches for Executive Visits

We are delighted to be listed once again among Feedspot’s Top Leadership Blogs of 2026. You can read the entire list here.