By Penny Power – Business Author & Human-Centred Speaker
This week I’ve been reflecting on something beautifully simple, yet increasingly rare.
Human curiosity.
Not curiosity about the latest headlines.
Not curiosity about trends.
But curiosity about one another.
As an AI keynote speaker, I am loving the opportunity to talk about the opportunities and challenges technology presents. While AI is transforming how we work, communicate and build businesses, one thing remains unchanged: our deep human need to feel seen, heard and valued.
In my keynote on Significance, I share that feeling truly significant follows a quiet journey:
Curiosity → Compassion → Contribution → Confirmation
It begins when someone takes an interest in you.
It deepens when they care about what they discover.
It strengthens when something of value is shared.
And it completes when you are seen and affirmed for who you are.
That journey changes people.
Last week, I was travelling on a packed train to Manchester. There was standing room only, bags wedged into every corner, strangers avoiding eye contact. I noticed a man sitting alone. His face, neck and arms were covered in tattoos. He looked dishevelled and there was a noticeable space around him despite the lack of seats.
I walked over, sat beside him, held out my hand and said:
“Hi, I’m Penny. Which tattoo did you have first?”
Two hours later, I had learned about a 62-year-old man who retired at 55 after dedicating his life to caring for children with profound physical and learning disabilities. He loved people. He loved life. It was one of the most enriching conversations I’ve had in a long time.
All it took was curiosity.
As one of the UK’s women motivational speakers focused on human connection, I am constantly reminded that extraordinary stories are hidden inside ordinary conversations.
Recently, after a keynote speech, a father ran after me. He told me his 17-year-old son would only communicate with him via text message. It was breaking his heart.
I asked him gently:
“Why?”
He replied:
“I have no idea.”
So I asked:
“Have you asked him why?”
He hadn’t.
That moment stayed with me.
We live in an age of emotional disconnection. Social anxiety is rising. Conversations are shrinking. We scroll instead of sit. We assume instead of ask.
This is why emotional intelligence at work has never been more important. The ability to be curious, listen deeply and understand another person’s perspective is becoming a genuine competitive advantage.
Many business motivational speakers talk about performance, productivity and growth. Those things matter. But sustainable success is built on relationships, and relationships begin with the skills that are weirdly referred to as ‘soft skills’, and building curiosity is definitely a communication skill we are losing and we must nurture and hold onto..
Here’s another dimension of curiosity. In 1988, after months of blocked calls through my secretary, I finally met Thomas, (now my husband since 1990). I hadn’t realised he was trying to date me rather than sell to me.
Three weeks after our first date, I told him I loved him.
His response?
“Why?”
It made me squirm. It made me laugh.
But he was right.
Validation matters.
Recognition matters.
Confirmation matters.
Understanding why someone matters to you requires knowing who they truly are, not just what they do.
We cannot confirm someone’s significance unless we have first been curious enough to discover it.
As a motivational speaker and advocate for emotional intelligence in business, which carries a responsibility, I believe this may be one of the most important leadership skills of our time.
So this week, I invite you to try something brave.
Find someone, perhaps on a train, in a meeting, across the dinner table or in your workplace, and be genuinely curious about them.
Not about what they do.
Not about what they can offer you.
But about who they are.
Show compassion for where they have been.
Contribute through the rarest gift of all: deep, unhurried listening.
And then confirm to them, clearly and specifically, that they matter.
That knowing them has made a difference.
Because curiosity is what you give, and significance is what they feel.
In a world increasingly shaped by AI, human curiosity may become our greatest advantage.
Relationships build when you start with curiosity.
With love,
Penny Power OBE
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