The other day, I found myself deep in a rabbit hole, thinking about the owls and owlets in my neighborhood. It was 10:45 p.m., and I should have been asleep. But I was wide awake, totally absorbed—and weirdly energized.
That’s when I remembered a question Susan Cain posed in a recent Substack newsletter that’s been sitting with me ever since: “What topics do you happily obsess over?”
At first, it seems like a fun conversation starter. But look closer, and you’ll see the question holds power. It’s a shortcut to understanding what fuels you, what fascinates you, and what quietly guides your choices. In other words, it’s a tool for leadership.
That’s because what we pay attention to isn’t accidental—it’s instructive. Our obsessions—whether curious, creative, intellectual, or quirky—are like breadcrumbs leading back to our deeper values.
That article you bookmarked and actually read; the podcast you listen to on repeat; the spreadsheet you built just for fun, the perfect Wordle streak —it’s not random. They all say something about your wiring and possibly your leadership. Do this quick check-in:
- What do I happily obsess over?
- Why does it light me up?
- What does it say about how I think, lead, or connect?
Maybe you geek out over cooking or architectural design or amateur birding. Whatever it is, ask yourself why you keep circling back to it. These fascinations often reveal how you process the world, what kind of problems you’re wired to solve, and what environments bring out your best.
Some people run every morning, no matter what. It’s not about fitness goals—it’s about rhythm, discipline, and staying calm under pressure. That same calm shows up in how they lead.
Others obsess over planning perfect trips for friends. They’re not trying to impress anyone—they just want everyone to feel included. At work, they’re the glue. They build thoughtful, inclusive teams.
These passions may look personal, but they hold professional clues. As leaders, we’re trained to look outward. Solve. Support. Steady the ship. But the most grounded leaders I know turn inward too.
Try this:
- What do you always find yourself reading about, thinking about, talking about?
- What energizes you, even when no one’s watching?
- What part of your life do you micromanage—not because you have to but because you love to?
Now flip it:
- How might that habit be a strength at work?
- What does it say about your leadership style?
- What would change if you trusted that instinct more?
Here’s the thing:
Your obsessions don’t need to be useful to be powerful. They already are. They’re your fingerprint—your spark. So, follow the breadcrumb trail. It’s not a detour—it might be the path.
