Don Smithmier
EXPLORATORY
LEADERSHIP/
NAVIGATING THE
UNKNOWN
NATE GARVIS
TOM WIESE
STUDIO/E
September 12, 2018
THE CHALLENGE
V
U
C
Ambiguity
olatility
ncertainty
omplexity
EXPLORATORY LEADER
Dually Literate
EXPLORATORY LEADERSHIP
EXPLORATORY LEADERSHIP
Exploratory Leadership is the art of
motivating people (including
yourself) to effectively travel into
the unknown to discover more
possibility.
BEING AN EXPLORATORY LEADER
Exploratory leaders act:
• With a Curious Explorer’s Mindset
• In alignment with their Desire
• Using Intentional Focus
LIFE CYCLE WITH POSSIBILITYORGANIZATION LIFE CYCLE
LEARNING COMMUNITY
What we know
What we know we don’t know
What we don’t know we
don’t know
What I know
What someone else knows
What someone else
knows
What someone else knows
What someone else knows
What someone else knows
What someone else knows
What someone else
knows
LEARNING COMMUNITY
DISCIPLINED PRACTICE
70%
20%
10%
70% - Run the machine
20% - Improve and
innovate the machine
10% - Explore beyond
the machine
16 BAD THINGS DECREASING
16 GOOD THINGS INCREASING
MINDSET
Marcus Aurelius
Born: April 26, 121 AD
Died: March 17, 180 AD
MINDSET
Mindset Formula:
E + S = O
Marcus Aurelius
What is in front of you
that could benefit
from a more
energizing story?
MINDSET
LIFE CYCLE WITH POSSIBILITYDESIRE
What is your
Desire/Purpose?
LIFE CYCLE WITH POSSIBILITYDESIRE SENTENCE
____ my name ___
lived to
___ verb ___
in order to impact
___ other people___.
LIFE CYCLE WITH POSSIBILITYDESIRE: TURNING YOUR MISSION STATEMENT INTO CULTURE
HOSPITALITY
LIFE CYCLE WITH POSSIBILITYDESIRE: TURNING YOUR MISSION STATEMENT INTO CULTURE
What is your firm’s mission
statement and what actions are you
taking to bring it into a reality that
your customers feel?
FOCUS
FOCUS
1.  Where do you actively participate as a member in an ongoing diverse learning
community?
 
2.  When faced with a challenge, how do you identify if you are in the
Known or Unknown Zone?
 
3.  What are the stories you are telling yourself that hold you back or energize you?
 
4.  What is your Desire and are your actions aligned with it?
  
5.  What are your top three priorities?
EXPLORATORY QUESTIONS
FACTFULNESS
If you’d like a free copy of Factfulness –
email a request to hello@yourstudioe.com
THANK YOU

Exploratory Leadership / Navigating The Unknown