Choose to be Curious Ep. #298: Curiosity Builds Rapport, with Tyler Chisholm
Sep 25, 2025
Tyler Chisholm, a CEO and author passionate about curiosity as a leadership tool, shares insights from his book, Curious as Hell. He discusses his intriguing curiosity origin story involving a pool cue, emphasizing the importance of reflection. Tyler explains how building rapport through active listening and mirroring techniques can enhance psychological safety in teams. He also highlights the power of storytelling and metaphors in fostering understanding and collaboration. Don't miss his thoughts on framing challenges as opportunities for shared exploration!
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Pool Cue Turning Point
- Tyler bought a pool cue at 18 and admitted he didn't know the jargon, then asked the shopkeeper for help instead of pretending.
- That moment became his first clear memory of choosing curiosity and getting a better outcome.
Podcast As Curiosity Dojo
- Podcast hosting gave Tyler a practice space where he could be curious without needing to have answers.
- That practice translated into leadership changes after 360 feedback revealed he was shutting his team down.
Create Psychological Safety
- Create psychological safety by explicitly telling guests or team members they are valued and won't be judged.
- Set expectations and guardrails so people can show up authentically and contribute.
