How Curiosity Can Be a Leading Edge in the Eyecare Space - Part 2

In Part 1, Savory Turman, COMT, COE, Savory Coaching, discussed the first 2 settings: curiosity in clinic and how curiosity is invaluable in conflict/difficult conversations. In Part 2, she shares the next 2 settings: how curiosity is vital in patient education and how curiosity is critical in team leadership and coaching.

Transcript edited for clarity.

I am Savory Turman. I'm a COMT and COE with nearly 30 years of experience in eye care, and I am now a professionally trained and certified Leadership Coach. Today, I would like to talk to you about one of the most powerful tools you can carry throughout your career, wherever it takes you. And that tool is curiosity.

So let’s talk about the next 2 settings in which curiosity can be a leading edge in the eyecare space.

Third: Curiosity Is Vital In Patient Education

The same principle applies as previously discussed with team members.

Patients can come to us anxious, confused, and overwhelmed. A diagnosis—whether it's glaucoma, macular degeneration, or a need for cataract surgery—can feel frightening. Vision is so much more than just what someone can read on an eye chart. It’s about their independence, their livelihood, and their connections to family. Will they be able to drive? Will they have to move out of their home? Will they be a burden on their family? All this goes through their mind when they hear or fear a diagnosis. We may think we’re educating the patient, but they may interpret this as a lecture, and we lose them. If we ask questions first, we have the opportunity to connect.

Asking questions effectively is imperative. Instead of asking, “Are you using your eye drops as directed?” Ask, “How are you using your eye drops?”

Instead of, “Do you have any questions?” Ask, “What questions might you have about this condition?” or "What concerns you most about this next step?"

By asking open-ended questions and allowing space for an answer, you can gain more patient insight.

Curiosity in patient education means meeting people where they are. It transforms the clinical explanation into an actual conversation—and conversations build the trust that leads to better outcomes and stronger retention.

Fourth: Curiosity Is Critical in Team Leadership and Coaching

For those of you in leadership roles—or aspiring to them—curiosity is your most underrated management skill.

When a team member is underperforming, curiosity asks: "What obstacles are getting in the way?" rather than "Why isn’t this getting done?” While both questions may seem to be the same, why implies “wrongness” or judgment, and the team member’s defenses are immediately triggered. What leaves space for questions being okay. Most people want to do a good job and there is generally a thought process behind someone’s actions or inactions—whatever the case may be. By understanding what that thought process is, you can determine what is still missing from the equation. It could be retraining, restating the expectations, or maybe the team member has a new idea that could elevate the process.

Coaching with curiosity builds psychological safety. It tells your team, your perspective matters here. And teams that feel heard are teams that stay, engage, and bring their best ideas forward.

In Closing

Curiosity is not a personality trait that is reserved for a few. I consider it a superpower available to anyone. It is a daily practice—a choice you make in the exam room, in the staff meeting, in the difficult conversations you've been putting off.

Ask more questions and listen to the answers. Stay teachable yourself.

Your patients will feel it, your team will feel it, and your career will reflect it. Please feel free to reach out to me directly via email at savory@savoryturman.com or on LinkedIn if I can be helpful as you’re on your journey.

Thank you for your time today. I hope this gives you something to think about and, more importantly, something to ask about.