Curiosity: The Overlooked Business Communication Skill
When someone mentions your competition, what’s your first reaction?
Do you change the subject?
Do you bring the attention back to yourself?
Or… do you lean in and start learning?
Recently, while speaking at a conference about standing out from the crowd, I shared something that’s helped me massively in my career – becoming extremely curious about my competition.
As a magician and communication skills speaker, I’ve learned that curiosity is one of the most powerful business communication skills you can develop. In fact, it doesn’t just help you connect better with others – it helps you understand the market around you.
Turning Competition Into Free Market Research
When someone tells me, “Ben, I really like another magician,” instead of brushing it off or feeling defensive, I lean in and ask questions:
👉 What do you like about them?
👉 Is it the tricks? The personality? The style?
👉 What makes their performance stand out for you?
That short conversation is free market research.
Therefore, it gives me insight into what audiences value, what styles connect, and what emotional experiences people remember.
This is something every business – not just performers – can learn from.
If you want to stand out from your competition, you have to start by really understanding them.
The Power of Curiosity in Communication
Strong business communication skills aren’t just about what you say – they’re about how you listen.
Curiosity is a communication superpower.
When you show genuine interest in what others think, you don’t just gather information – you build relationships. You make people feel heard, valued, and understood.
Consequently, when you understand your audience, your customers, or your competitors better than anyone else… you make smarter decisions.
This is one of the key lessons I share as a communication skills speaker: the best communicators don’t dominate the conversation – they guide it through curiosity and empathy.
Apply It to Your Own Business
Here’s a simple exercise for your next team meeting:
Instead of avoiding the competition, bring them into the conversation.
Look at their websites, messaging, and social media, then ask your team:
✅ What do they do really well?
✅ Why might people choose them instead of us?
✅ What are they doing badly that we could do better?
In other words, the goal isn’t to copy – it’s to learn.
Because the more you understand what’s already resonating in your industry, the more opportunities you’ll spot to innovate and differentiate.
That’s how you create messaging, products, and experiences that truly stand out.
Curiosity Builds Confidence
When you stop fearing your competition and start studying them, your confidence grows.
You begin to see what makes you different; your story, your strengths, your unique perspective.
That’s exactly what strong businesses and performers are built on: self-awareness and adaptability.
When you know who you are and understand who else is in the room, you can communicate with authenticity and confidence – whether you’re pitching, presenting, or performing.
Final Thoughts: Learn From, Don’t Avoid, Your Competition
So, next time someone mentions a competitor, don’t deflect.
Lean in. Get curious. Ask a million questions.
Because the people who succeed aren’t the ones who ignore their competition – they’re the ones who learn from them.
The people with the best business communication skills are the ones who stay curious, listen deeply, and communicate with intention.
👉 Want to strengthen your team’s communication and connection skills? Visit my Keynote Speaker page to see how I help leaders communicate with confidence and clarity.