Book Review: Out of the Question

Book Review: Out of the Question March 22, 2016

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The longer I am a leader, the more I realize I do not know.

I used to believe leaders knew the right answers. Becoming a leader was about knowing the right things in front of the right people. When we finally knew enough things, we could become leaders.

As I gained leadership experience, I learned something ironic. Leadership is not like being in school, able to raise your hand and get called on to give the answer. Knowing the answers is actually kind of boring. The leaders who inspire me are not people who think they know the answers. The leaders who get my attention are people who want to continue learning.

Out of the Question: How Curious Leaders Win by Guy Parsons and Allan Milham is about Learner leadership.

“The difference between the Knower approach and the Learner approach is the difference between a planned trip and a journey of discovery.”

Out of the Question is an insightful guide to transformation. The authors describe how becoming a Learner leader grows from mindfulness and reflection. For many leaders, the first step on the road from Knowing to Learning is to pause. Take enough time to remember what is true and recognize what you are learning.

“The qualities you will need to cultivate include curiosity, open-spiritedness, and humility. You must be willing to say, ‘There are a lot of things I don’t know.'”

As you become a Learner leader, you are able to  begin engaging people around you.

Out of the Question describes, in tangible ways, how our curiosity fuels our leadership. We take time to know our deeper selves, then share ourselves with people around us.

The more we learn, the more there is to learn.

What is your leadership curious about today?

Where is the next place your curiosity will lead you?


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