Dr. Andy Szeto: It Starts with a Question

During a short break between classes this week, something small but meaningful happened. It lasted no more than a few moments, yet it captured something essential about leadership, opportunity, and the quiet power of curiosity. Two early-career students from a school counseling preparation program approached me while I was taking a short breather outside my classroom. They looked a little unsure but also determined, the way many students look when they know they want to ask something but are not entirely sure how the question will be received.

They glanced at my students gathering at the tables nearby. Then one of them took a small step closer and asked, “What program do you teach?” That was it. A simple question. Direct, unpolished, and sincere.

I always pay attention when someone leads with curiosity. It is a soft skill that becomes a hard advantage in any profession that relies on people. Curiosity signals readiness. It signals confidence. It signals that someone is thinking beyond the syllabus and beyond the checklist printed on the back of their program guide. So I stopped what I was doing and gave them my full attention.

I explained that I teach educational leadership and that the students in my class are training to become school leaders. I told them that these learners are preparing for roles such as assistant principal, principal, instructional coach, supervisor, or district administrator. I shared that my course brings together emerging leaders who are thinking about how to shape culture, support teachers, improve instruction, strengthen school systems, and advocate for students. Educational leadership is both an academic pathway and a professional commitment, and I wanted them to understand the significance of the work happening inside that room.

The two counseling students listened with genuine interest. I could tell they had never met graduate students in leadership preparation before, at least not in a way that felt this open. So I invited them to say a quick hello to my class. They were not expected to stay. They were not being recruited. I simply encouraged them to greet the people they might someday collaborate with as school counselors. Leadership and counseling intersect constantly. When those professional relationships begin early, both fields benefit.

They stepped in, gave a short greeting, and exchanged a few words with my students. Then they headed out. They did not stay long, but they did something far more important. They asked a question. They approached someone unfamiliar. They opened a door even when they did not know what was on the other side.

That brief interaction stayed with me for the rest of the class.

As the door closed behind them, I turned to my students and used the moment as an immediate lesson. Sometimes the most powerful teaching does not come from the planned slides or the prepared discussion questions. Sometimes it comes from what happens between the slides, in the hallway, or during a five minute break when real leadership behaviors show up in unexpected ways.

I told my class that what the counseling students did is something every leader must learn. Leaders ask. Leaders connect. Leaders take initiative. Leaders put themselves in unfamiliar spaces because they understand that relationships begin long before formal roles are assigned. The openness to start a conversation is often the beginning of everything else that follows.

I reminded them that leadership is not only about vision-setting or decision-making. Leadership begins with presence. Leadership begins with curiosity. Leadership begins when someone decides to lean in instead of stepping back. It begins when someone asks a question that most people talk themselves out of asking.

That small exchange reminded me of a moment from my own early career. More than fifteen years ago, while I was still a classroom teacher, I had a very similar instinct. I ran into my superintendent at the district office. I did not have a plan. I did not have a rehearsed speech. I simply asked, “Is there anything I can do for you?” I was not looking for a position or a title. I just wanted to stay connected, remain visible, and show my willingness to help. I wanted to learn. I wanted to grow. I wanted to contribute in ways that extended beyond my classroom but remained aligned to the work I cared about.

To my surprise, she did have something I could support. That simple moment led to a project that expanded my exposure, challenged my skills, and helped me understand leadership from a system-wide lens. That hallway question changed the trajectory of my professional life more than any formal application, interview, or resume ever did. It also taught me a lesson I still live by today. Opportunities rarely fall into your lap. You create them by being present, engaged, and curious.

I shared that story with my students because it connects directly to what happened with those two counseling students. The moment they approached me, I saw the spark of possibility. They may not realize it now, but their willingness to question, introduce themselves, and take up a few seconds of someone’s time is the beginning of how leaders, counselors, and educators build networks that matter.

Curiosity is not accidental. It reflects a mindset. The willingness to ask a question is a predictor of professional growth because it shows that a person is not confined by fear or self-consciousness. They are willing to explore. They are willing to be seen. They are willing to step into a space where they do not yet hold expertise or authority. Early-career professionals sometimes underestimate how rare this is. Many people walk past opportunities every day because they convince themselves they do not belong in the room or that they should wait for a more perfect moment. Yet the truth is that moments never arrive in perfect form. People create them.

I wanted my students to see that leadership development is not separate from daily life. Every hallway conversation, every question posed to a colleague, every decision to approach someone experienced or unfamiliar is a rehearsal for the type of leader they will eventually become. Asking a question signals readiness for growth. It signals a willingness to be part of something larger.

Later that evening, I found myself thinking about how often leadership journeys begin with subtle interactions. A student asks a mentor for advice. A teacher volunteers to help with a project. A counselor shadowing an administrator asks what a day in their life looks like. A new teacher asks for feedback instead of waiting for an observation report. None of these actions guarantee a transformative opportunity. But each action increases the likelihood that an opportunity will one day appear.

There is no certainty in any of this. There is no guarantee that every question will open a door. But what is guaranteed is that silence opens none. Growth does not come to those who wait passively. Growth comes to those who ask to understand, who seek to connect, and who show initiative even when they are unsure of the outcome.

That is what I admired about those two counseling students. They may not realize how significant that moment was, but their choice to ask a question spoke volumes about their readiness to grow professionally. They chose curiosity over hesitation. They chose connection over comfort. They chose the question.

Whether you are early in your career, preparing for leadership, or thinking about your next chapter in education, remember this simple truth:

It starts with a question.

Lead Forward is an exclusive feature by Dr. Andy Szeto on The Worthy Educator. Check back regularly for new insights for aspiring leaders!