Let’s Bring More Wonder into Our Business Conversations

Shift from expertise to curiosity and make your next conversation count.

By Sarah Montague, guest blogger

The Ways We Work

Volume 1, Number 6

Opening Reflection

I’ve been thinking a lot about what it takes to be fully present in today’s workplace. Recently, I’ve been experimenting with AI tools to sharpen my in-the-moment listening skills—using them to capture highlights, free up my attention, and open space to be more curious and more human in my conversations.

At PSMJ, an advisory firm serving leaders of architecture and engineering firms, we often talk with clients about leadership development and the resources needed to bring the next generation of architects and engineers into leadership ranks. What makes a great project manager is not the same skill set that makes a great leader.

Listening is one of the most underrated leadership capabilities. It’s also one of the hardest to practice.

Why Listening Matters

Recently, I hosted a book discussion with our clients on You’re Not Listening by Kate Murphy. Together we explored what real listening looks like in leadership conversations:

• Listening with intent to understand, not to reply.

• Asking open-ended questions that show genuine curiosity.

• Using disarming questions that break up small talk and spark connection.

• Being mindful with word choice.

• Getting comfortable with silence—resisting the urge to fill gaps with assumptions.

• Managing digital distractions by tucking phones away and turning off notifications.

As I reflected on that conversation, I realized something: my most successful professional relationships were built not on demonstrating expertise but on showing genuine curiosity.

This echoes a theme that was surfaced in From Pink Slips to Power Plays: Make AI Your Next Teammate. In moments of change, curiosity creates agency.

Curiosity as a Competitive Edge

When I was at Forrester Research, I worked with brilliant analysts across marketing, customer experience, sales, and technology. I learned quickly that conversations were more productive when I came prepared to speak with them with genuine questions.

“I’m wondering if your take on AI Teammates might apply to a situation I’m discussing with a client this week. Do you have a minute?”

That simple frame often sparked deeper insights, and it’s one I still use with clients today.

In the architecture and engineering world, precision and expertise are prized. But as technical experts move into leadership, they often discover a paradox: their edge no longer comes from what they know, but from how deeply they’re willing not to know.

The shift from expert to explorer isn’t easy. But it’s where growth happens.

A Call to Leaders

The competitive edge isn’t in having all the answers—it’s in asking better questions and listening more.

This mindset isn’t just relevant in professional services or engineering—it’s true across every industry. And it aligns with what we’ve been exploring in this series: how we can work alongside AI as a teammate, not a replacement, to show up more human in our work.

Listening with wonder isn’t just a skill—it’s a practice that can transform every conversation into an opportunity for growth, connection, and impact.

Follow our journey at trymeerkat.ai and connect with us on LinkedIn to get the latest resources, insights, and updates.