Christian Wehner – Why we should all be more childlike again

Christian Wehner: Keynote speech at #secondstowow & Location Award 2025 in Hannover

What if the most important lessons in life have long been learned – but simply forgotten?

Christian Wehner, speaker, author and creative thinker, spoke about precisely this at the #secondstowow event in Hanover. In his keynote speech, he took the audience on an inspiring journey back to childhood curiosity – and thus right into the heart of what we as adults have often lost.

Competition is a thing of the past – now it’s questions that count

Christian Wehner put forward a thesis that is more relevant than ever in the digital age:

‘Competition based on knowledge is a thing of the past. We need to learn to ask questions again!’

In a world where knowledge is available at any time, it is no longer those who know the most who are rewarded – but those who ask the better questions. Children do this naturally. They want to understand, not shine. Adults, on the other hand, have often forgotten how to ask questions for fear of appearing ignorant.

But Wehner makes it clear: curiosity is not a risk – it is the basis of progress.

Naivety as a survival strategy

Christian Wehner: ‘Children need naivety to survive. Adults kill naivety in order to survive.’

This statement struck a chord in the room.

Children are allowed to marvel, trust and dream – they perceive the world with open eyes and hearts. Adults, on the other hand, learn early on to be cautious, rational and efficient. But in doing so, something is lost: the ability to view life playfully, with hope and confidence.

Christian Wehner calls on us to regain this lost naivety as a strength. Because when we allow ourselves to marvel, trust and dream, true creativity – and humanity – emerges.

Companies want creativity – but forget the childlike

Every company today talks about innovation, creativity and ‘out of the box’ thinking.

But what does that really mean?

A creative team needs more than processes, tools and workshops – it needs people who can marvel, trust, wonder, dream, question, believe, let go, forgive, hope and play again.

These seemingly simple skills are the basis for everything that constitutes innovation. But we have forgotten how to be simple.

Back to kindergarten – not backwards, but forwards

Christian Wehner’s lecture was not a nostalgic look back, but a call to bring the child in us back to life – not to relinquish responsibility, but to bear it with more ease and openness.

Because when we look at the world with childlike curiosity and trust again, space is created for new things: in companies, in relationships, in thinking.

Wehner’s message and book (in german) of the same name:

‘Everything you need to know in life, you learned in kindergarten. How to regain lost skills’ – Now is the time to remember.

Book Christian Wehner for a lecture: 49 (0)60 327 859 393 or christian.wehner@premium-speakers.com