Curiosity in Action

Earlier this month, the POWWR leadership team came together for a day dedicated to learning and collaboration, bringing colleagues from across the business together to explore how curiosity can drive stronger performance, better communication and more effective leadership.

The Importance of Emotional Intelligence

The morning was led by Christina Lewis, Founder of [GU1] Herizon and a specialist in emotional intelligence and high performance for tech teams. Having worked with organisations including Sony, AWS, Virgin O2, Uber, BBC, JLL and Deliveroo, Christina brought a wealth of experience and practical insight to the session. Drawing on her expertise in leadership development and high-performance cultures, she challenged attendees to think differently about the role curiosity plays in both personal and professional success.

At the heart of Christina's session was a simple but powerful idea: great leaders are curious leaders. Rather than relying solely on experience or assumptions, effective leaders continually seek to understand, learn and adapt. Through a series of interactive discussions and exercises, the team explored how curiosity can strengthen relationships, improve decision-making and create environments where people feel empowered to contribute their best ideas.

A key focus of the morning was emotional intelligence and its connection to leadership. Christina highlighted how self-awareness, empathy and active listening can help leaders build trust, navigate challenges and foster stronger collaboration across teams. Participants were encouraged to reflect on their own leadership styles and consider how greater curiosity can lead to more meaningful conversations and better outcomes.

The sessions were highly interactive, with colleagues sharing experiences, perspectives and examples from their own roles. By encouraging open discussion and challenging conventional thinking, Christina created an environment where people felt comfortable exploring new ideas and learning from one another.

[GU1]

Understanding Different Communication Styles

A particularly engaging part of the day saw the team explore different communication and leadership preferences through a style profiling exercise. The session encouraged participants to reflect on how they naturally process information, give and receive feedback, navigate workplace dynamics and approach conflict.

The exercise revealed a healthy mix of personality styles across the room, highlighting the diversity of thinking within the organisation. Rather than categorising people into fixed personality types, Christina emphasised that these styles represent behavioural patterns that can be understood, adapted and developed over time.

Participants explored how some individuals are natural "live-wires", preferring to think out loud and make decisions in the moment, while others are "deep-divers" who prefer time to reflect and process information before responding. The discussion also examined how people listen, communicate feedback and manage challenging conversations, with some gravitating towards direct and immediate dialogue while others seek context, reflection or consensus.

One of the key takeaways was that many workplace frustrations are often the result of differences in communication styles rather than differences in capability or intent. By becoming more aware of these preferences, individuals can better understand their colleagues, adapt their own approach and build stronger, more productive working relationships.

The session perfectly reinforced the day's broader theme of curiosity. Effective leaders are not only curious about ideas and opportunities; they are curious about people. Taking the time to understand how others think, communicate and respond creates stronger teams, more meaningful collaboration and ultimately better outcomes for everyone involved.

Putting Theory into Practice

As the day progressed, attention turned to putting these concepts into practice through a series of role-play exercises. Working in groups, attendees were presented with realistic workplace scenarios designed to test communication skills, leadership approaches and problem-solving abilities. The exercises encouraged participants to step into different perspectives, ask better questions and apply the principles of curiosity and emotional intelligence in real-world situations.

One of the most impactful takeaways from the day was the reminder that leadership is not about having all the answers. Instead, it is about creating the conditions for others to succeed, remaining open to new perspectives and continually seeking opportunities to learn and grow. Curiosity provides the foundation for this approach, enabling leaders to better understand their teams, customers and wider business challenges.

Bringing the Team Together

Beyond the formal learning sessions, the event also provided an opportunity to strengthen relationships across the organisation. Following a productive day of development and discussion, colleagues came together for a BBQ, offering a chance to relax, continue conversations and connect with one another in a more informal setting.

The event was also supported by a professional videography team (shoutout to Yellow Lizard Media[GU1] ), who captured key moments throughout the day. From the interactive workshops and role-play activities to the conversations and networking that followed, the footage will help showcase the energy, engagement and enthusiasm that characterised the event. who captured key moments throughout the day. From the interactive workshops and role-play activities to the conversations and networking that followed, the footage will help showcase the energy, engagement and enthusiasm that characterised the event.

[GU1]

Looking Ahead

Bringing people together to learn, share ideas and challenge themselves is an important part of building a high-performing culture. The day served as a valuable reminder that leadership development is an ongoing journey, and that curiosity remains one of the most powerful tools for growth, innovation and success.

We would like to thank Christina for sharing her expertise and inspiring the team to think differently about leadership, communication and high performance. We look forward to sharing photos and video highlights from the day in the coming weeks.