Have you ever faced a tough conversation at work that left you feeling stuck or frustrated? Or wondered how to build trust with a colleague who just seems impossible to connect with?
If so, you’re not alone—and you’re in for a treat. In the latest episode of From a Woman to a Leader, I sat down with Dr. Julie Pham, TEDx speaker, bestselling author of 7 Forms of Respect, and founder of CuriosityBased. Together, we explored how curiosity can transform workplace relationships and help us navigate even the most challenging situations.
🎧 Listen to the full episode here: The Curiosity Formula for Resolving Conflicts and Building Trust with Dr. Julie Pham
Why Curiosity Is Your Career Superpower
Dr. Julie Pham shared an eye-opening perspective: curiosity isn’t just a personality trait—it’s a skill you can practice. By slowing down and approaching challenges with curiosity, you can:
•Turn conflict into connection
•Build trust with colleagues and leaders
•Navigate negotiations and grow your career
Here’s how curiosity can make a difference:
1. Shift from Reaction to Reflection
In the heat of a difficult conversation, our instincts often take over. We react emotionally, and before we know it, we’ve escalated the conflict.
Dr. Pham suggests practicing inward curiosity:
•Pause and ask yourself, “Why is this bothering me?”
•Reflect on your assumptions and emotions before jumping to conclusions.
•Use this understanding to approach the situation calmly and constructively.
💡 Key Insight: “Curiosity starts with understanding yourself. Pause before reacting to create space for meaningful conversations.”
2. Build Authentic Trust Through Relationships
Relationships are the foundation of trust, and trust is the key to influence. Dr. Pham emphasized that curiosity can help us build deeper, more authentic connections with colleagues by:
•Asking open-ended questions to truly understand their perspective.
•Sharing a bit of ourselves in return, creating a sense of reciprocity.
•Following up with small gestures, like remembering a personal detail or checking in after a conversation.
💡 Pro Tip: Even if you’re introverted or in a technical role, set a small goal to connect with one new person each month.
3. Approach Negotiations with an Open Mind
Negotiations often feel like battles to win. But what if they could be collaborative problem-solving sessions instead?
Dr. Pham explained that curiosity allows us to explore options beyond a simple “yes” or “no.” For example:
•If a salary increase isn’t possible, could you negotiate for additional benefits like education funding, equity, or flexibility?
•Ask thoughtful questions to uncover constraints and opportunities for creative solutions.
💡 Action Step: Prepare for your next negotiation by brainstorming multiple outcomes that align with your goals.
4. Curiosity as a Leadership Tool
Leadership isn’t about having all the answers—it’s about asking the right questions. Dr. Pham shared how leaders can use curiosity to:
•Align team goals with individual motivations.
•Create a culture where feedback is welcomed and valued.
•Build resilience by focusing on learning, not just results.
💡 Thought Starter: “What do we want to learn, no matter the outcome?”
Final Thoughts: Practice Curiosity Every Day
Dr. Julie Pham left us with a simple yet powerful reminder: curiosity is a practice. It’s okay to admit when we fall short—it’s part of the process. By embracing curiosity in our daily interactions, we can transform our approach to challenges, build meaningful relationships, and take charge of our careers.
🎧 Ready to unlock the power of curiosity? Listen to the full episode here: The Curiosity Formula for Resolving Conflicts and Building Trust with Dr. Julie Pham
About Dr. Julie Pham
Dr. Julie Pham is the founder and the CEO of CuriosityBased, which helps people practice curiosity in the world, starting in the workplace.
She is the author of the #1 Amazon New Release and Bestseller 7 Forms of Respect: A Guide to Transforming Your Communication and Relationships at Work and a TEDx Speaker.
She is an award-winning leader who applies her community-building experience to strengthening teams. Dr. Pham has worked as a journalist, a historian, a tech industry marketer, and a nonprofit executive. Dr. Pham got her “real-life MBA” by running her family’s Vietname
se-language newspaper, Người Việt Tây Bắc. She earned her PhD in history at Cambridge University as a Gates Cambridge Scholar and graduated magna cum laude from UC Berkeley, where she studied history.
Check out her talk, What are the 7 Forms of Respect : https://youtu.be/ervnpZaFQo0?si=2nmQQ1BKuYpFf9dA
Connect with her:
- Website: http://www.curiositybased.com
- Book website: http://www.formsofrespect.com
- Personal Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/juliepham2
- Company Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/curiositybased/
- YouTube: youtube.com/@curiositybased
- Company TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@curiositybased
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/curiositybased/
Two of Dr. Julie’s articles:
- How to Write a Proposal to Get a Job You Love: YouTube – https://youtu.be/RqcNkYlPfK4?si=KSNzytuO6UOtOwmI, HBR – https://hbr.org/2023/04/how-to-write-a-job-proposal-and-land-the-role-you-want
- 6 Tips to Get a Job You Love: YouTube – https://youtu.be/d-ZngoN2Bio?si=qOUQ6zI1KiBwZEwo, Detailed blog post – https://curiositybased.com/6-tips-on-how-to-get-a-job-you-love/
Share the Wisdom!
If you found these insights valuable, share this post with your network or tag someone who could benefit. Together, we can make curiosity the superpower of the workplace.
#Curiosity #ConflictResolution #Leadership #Podcast #WomenInTech #CareerGrowth
