Leadership Through Curiosity and Wonder

I'm going to give you a secret now. A good magician never reveals the secrets of magic, but this rule-breaking is one I think the magic community will forgive.

Leading through a sense of wonder and curiosity is a frequently overlooked tool.

Let’s examine one of my favorite words: wonder. As kids, we wonder about the world as we grow. We imagine what it will be like to be married, working, or simply grown up. We wonder why the sky is blue, and how Santa Claus fits all those presents into his bag.

Wonder is one of the most powerful emotions—and one we often dismiss as adults.

Somewhere around the age of twelve, we stop wondering so much. Adolescents assume they need to know everything (or at least pretend to), and wonder begins to fade.

At Magic in the Library, I teach language arts concepts through wonder. While many of my performances are for children twelve and under, I’m often asked to perform for teens. Middle and high school students are some of the most skeptical audiences in the world, yet I get to evoke a sense of wonder they’ve buried deep inside.

Wonder allows us to connect with a longing in our hearts and minds—a craving for things beyond this world, or perhaps a desire to return to childhood. Either way, it’s an emotion that sneaks up on us daily, set against the backdrop of reality.

What many don’t realize is that wonder is also a powerful teaching tool—and even a leadership technique.

Wonder Makes You Hypothesize

When I began Magic in the Library, I leaned on the Socratic Method: asking questions and teaching students to ask questions. At crucial turning points in a show, I’d pose a question that sparked curiosity.

In a classroom, a teacher might ask, “Why do you think the sky is blue?” The teacher already knows the answer, but the question taps into wonder, leading the class together and teaching students to hypothesize.

When students are emotionally invested through wonder, curiosity follows—and their desire to learn is satisfied. The same is true for teams: when people are engaged, they retain more and investigate further.

Wonder Makes You Crave Curiosity

You’ve heard the phrase “Curiosity killed the cat.” But the full quote is: “Curiosity killed the cat, but satisfaction brought it back.”

Curiosity is healthy. Out of context, it sounds negative, but in truth, curiosity is a gift. By making people curious, you are leading them. By creating a safe setting—whether classroom or conference—you give permission to explore. That gift is one of the most powerful instruments a leader can offer.

Leadership Through Wonder

The next time you teach or lead—whether in an elementary classroom or a boardroom—consider using wonder as your tool.

Say to your team: “We have problem X, and I’d like your thoughts on how to solve it.”

Contrary to what you might think, posing such a question confidently does not make you weak. It opens the door to conversation and deeper attention. It shows your team you value their thoughts—even if you already know the answer. And sometimes, like Socrates, you’ll uncover new learning opportunities you hadn’t recognized.

Wonder has worked well for me as a professional magician. It lets me pull and throw the audience’s attention from one routine to another, creating a bold theatrical adventure. But wonder isn’t exclusive to magicians. Whether you’re a parent, marketer, chef, doctor, pastor, plumber, or anything else—you can lead your team, clients, and students through wonder.

If you don’t believe me, try it. And remember: leading through wonder is a secret. I hope it’s one you’ll use and cherish.