Confidence and curiosity
And the tension between both.
This isn’t about chasing virality or pretending to have all the answers. The Content Brief is where we explore the messy and meaningful both/and of work and life—with practical tools, real stories and curiosity as our guide. I’m Christin, and I believe clarity comes from the contradictions we name and the stories we tell.
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In leadership, we’re often told to “be confident” and “know the answers.” But the best leaders I’ve seen are confident and curious. They hold authority without pretending they’ve outgrown learning.
Early in my career, I thought being credible meant always having an answer ready. I prepared endlessly before meetings, afraid of being caught off guard.
Then I worked with a senior leader who often said, “That’s a good question. I don’t know the answer yet—but let’s find out.”
At first, I worried this would make him look weak. Instead, it made the team trust him more. He had authority because he knew what he stood for, and curiosity because he knew he didn’t stand alone.
The Message Clarity Filter
I use a clarity filter to test if a message is strong. You can use the same filter in conversations when you don’t have all the answers:
Message Clarity Filter
1️⃣ Who is this for?
2️⃣ What’s the purpose?
3️⃣ What’s known for sure?
4️⃣ What’s still being explored?
Answering those four aloud communicates authority (clarity on what’s true) and curiosity (openness to what’s unfolding).
Where in your work or life could you admit, “Here’s what I know; here’s what I don’t, yet”?
Authority and curiosity aren’t opposites. Real leadership is holding both.
I’d love to hear: where are you practicing confident curiosity right now?
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