Curiosity Killed the Cat, but it may Just Save Your Leadership Career

+ AI Prompts for Curious Leaders

By Micah Gaudet •
Training & Education

We've all heard the old adage "curiosity killed the cat." It's a warning that too much curiosity can lead to trouble. However, I would propose that curiosity is an essential component to effective leadership.

Leadership is about many things: vision, strategy, decision-making, and communication, to name a few. But one critical quality that often goes overlooked is curiosity. Curiosity is the desire to learn and understand new things, to ask questions and seek out answers. It's the driving force behind innovation and progress. In today's fast-paced, ever-changing world, leaders who lack curiosity risk falling behind and missing out on valuable opportunities.

Curiosity is a by-product of humility. As leaders, we must be willing to admit that we don't know everything and that there is always room for improvement. It takes humility to ask questions and seek out new information. Without curiosity, we risk becoming stagnant, complacent, and ultimately ineffective.

The importance of curiosity in leadership is echoed in 1 Corinthians 10:12, which states "So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall!" This verse is a reminder that even the strongest and most capable leaders can fall if they become too comfortable or complacent. Leaders who exhibit curiosity often have a thirst for knowledge and a willingness to explore new ideas. They are not satisfied with the status quo and are always looking for ways to improve and grow.

But curiosity is not just about individual success. It's also important for building strong teams and organizations. Leaders who encourage curiosity among their employees create an environment that fosters creativity, collaboration, and innovation. By asking questions and seeking out diverse perspectives, teams are better able to solve complex problems and identify new opportunities. In today's fast-paced and ever-changing world, curiosity is more important than ever. We need to be constantly learning and adapting to new technologies, new markets, and new ways of doing business.

As leaders, we need to embrace these tools and encourage our teams to do the same. By harnessing the power of AI, we can stay on the cutting edge of our industries, make more informed decisions, and drive innovation and growth.

Let's be clear, this is not just about acquiring the latest gadgets, tools, and technologies. It's about cultivating a mindset of curiosity and continuous learning. Curiosity is free. As leaders, we need to model this behavior for our teams, encouraging them to ask questions, seek out new information, and challenge the status quo.

Curiosity may have killed the cat, but it may just save your leadership career. By remaining humble, embracing AI tools, and cultivating a mindset of continuous learning, we can stay ahead of the curve and drive innovation and growth in our organizations. So, let's ask questions, seek out new information, and never stop learning.

If you're looking to develop your curiosity and improve your leadership skills, using AI tools like ChatGPT, Bard, WePik Presentation Maker, ChatSonic, etc can be incredibly beneficial. With their vast knowledge and ability to generate new ideas and insights, these tools can help you explore new perspectives and discover innovative solutions to complex problems. Here are 50 of my favorite prompts to help get you started.

50 AI Prompts for Curious Leaders

  1. Give me 5 things I can use [enter AI tool name] for as a [job title]
  2. Write me a job description for [enter job title] Note, you can say "Use the following as a template [paste an existing job description]"
  3. Here are the previous [#] years of budgets for [city name], what insights can you give me? [paste URLs of budget pdfs]
  4. Compare and contrast [item 1] with [item 2]. do this from the perspective of a [example, police department].
  5. Write a business case for the purchase of [item] for [city name] and include a cost analysis
  6. Do a community risk analysis for [city name]
  7. Create an RFP for [city name] for [product/service]. Note, if you have an existing template, you can add "Use the following as a template: [paste template]
  8. Summarize this [paste text] Note, you can also ask it to summarize in bullets.
  9. Draft an email response to [email].
  10. Create a list of potential risks and mitigation strategies for this [description] Note, I've used this prompt to help me evaluate an Intergovernmental Agreement.
  11. Write a press release for [event or announcement] to inform the public and media about the important details.
  12. Summarize the key findings of [research report] in an executive summary to provide a concise overview of the report.
  13. Create a meeting outline for [topic], including a list of stakeholders who should attend to ensure productive discussions.
  14. Identify the stakeholders and their interests for [project title/idea] to inform decision-making and ensure buy-in.
  15. Design a stakeholder survey for [project/idea] to gather feedback, opinions, and insights from those who are affected or involved.
  16. Draft a sample letter of support for [project/grant application, etc] I can use to solicit support from other agencies
  17. Create a project plan for [paste project description text], including milestones, deadlines, and a sample budget template.
  18. Analyze the [financial document text or pdf URL] budget and identify areas where cost savings can be achieved.
  19. Draft a memo on [topic or request] to [recipient(s)].
  20. Create a set of interview questions for [paste job description text] to help evaluate candidates.
  21. Develop a training module for employees on [topic or skill] to improve their skills and knowledge.
  22. Conduct a SWOT analysis for [department or program] to identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats.
  23. Develop SMART objectives for [project, idea, goal, etc] to provide clear direction and measurable outcomes.
  24. Create a set of best practices for [paste process or task text] to ensure consistency and quality in execution.
  25. Write a case study on the successful implementation of [paste policy or initiative text], highlighting key benefits and takeaways.
  26. Develop a public engagement strategy for [paste project or issue text] to foster community involvement and support.
  27. Write a set of guidelines for [paste program or initiative text] to ensure consistency and effectiveness in implementation.
  28. Develop a strategic plan for [paste department or agency text] to provide direction and guidance for future activities and initiatives.
  29. Analyze the data from [paste report or study text] and identify key trends to inform decision-making and planning.
  30. Draft a contingency plan for [paste event or scenario text] to ensure preparedness and effective response in case of unexpected circumstances.
  31. Develop a set of evaluation criteria for [paste program or policy text] to assess its effectiveness and impact.
  32. Write a cover letter that matches language from [paste job announcement text or url].
  33. Find me 5 grants I can use for [project idea] in [city name]
  34. What insights can you give me from this budget? I want to know sources of revenues, and major expenditures, and capital projects for [city name]: [paste budget pdf url]
  35. Create a job description for an aquatics director for the city of Pasco WA. USE the following as a formatting template:
  36. Generate a list of the 10 best prompts for [insert job title]. The prompts should be about [insert related topic].
  37. Explain the text below and make it easy for a beginner to understand [paste text or URL].
  38. I am interviewing for [enter position]. Can you give me a comprehensive list of questions interviewers will ask me during this interview. Also provide brief answers to each question."
  39. Analyze the following for tone of voice and style. Apply that exact style and tone of voice to your future responses [paste a writing sample of about 200 words]
  40. Proofread the following for grammar and spelling, and make suggestions to improve clarity [paste text]
  41. [insert problem] Give me a step by step solution to the problem above with clear instructions on how to execute each step.
  42. Use [paste URL of traffic crash report pdf] to analyze crash data for [city name]
  43. Use the following to tell me the top intersections, time and day of week, and cause of crashes in [city name]: [paste URL of crash report]
  44. Draft an economic development plan for [city name]
  45. Write an NIMS and ICS compliant emergency operations plan for [city name] using CPG-101 as the template.
  46. Prepare a template for submitting progress reports to [program administrator/relevant stakeholder(s), position name and title, etc]
  47. Draft a proposal for a public-private partnership to fund [specific economic development initiative]
  48. Create a marketing plan to promote [specific business district, commercial area, or industry sector] in our community.
  49. Write a local law for [city name] on [topic] using [format instructions]
  50. Analyze our current budget policies and procedures and identify opportunities for improvement and streamlining.

These prompts are designed to help you leverage AI tools for practical government work, from policy development to budget analysis to community engagement. Remember, the key to effective prompting is being specific about what you need and providing context when possible.

By embracing curiosity and these AI tools, we can transform how we approach leadership challenges and drive meaningful innovation in our organizations.