Curiosity doesn't always lead in expected directions. (I think of the tale of Curious George Rides a Bike, in which George is asked to deliver newspapers but instead makes paper boats of them and sends them floating downstream.) But leaders do incalculable things when they smile in the face of convention and choose to let their curiosity out of the bag, and learn something new.

Sander A. Flaum is managing partner of Flaum Partners. He can be reached at sflaum@flaumpartners.com