Curiosity Isn’t Just Child’s Play
Is curiosity part of your company’s culture?
If it isn’t, it should be!
You’ve heard how important emotional intelligence is to so many aspects of workplace culture, employee engagement, and learning and development. The same goes for diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) and psychological safety. But who is talking about the power of curiosity? WE ARE. The Solutions Arts team is talking about this with our clients and feels it can have a similar impact to these other elements. And, we want more people to realize curiosity’s potential, join us in getting the word out, and cultivate it within your own organization.
Why Curiosity?
When people acquire knowledge and skills based on curiosity, they’re likely to retain the information much better than with a traditional “rote” style.
Curiosity after childhood is more difficult, but the benefits are clear. People who continue to be curious have stronger cognitive abilities; exploration stimulates brain activity and new neural connections, improving things such as memory, attention, and critical thinking. Curious people also tend to have:
Improved problem-solving skills
More intrinsic motivation
Enhanced creativity and innovation
Reduced stress and anxiety
Better career and personal growth
Higher resilience and a positive outlook
Globally, only 21% of employees are engaged on the job, a number that’s been steadily declining over the last 20 years, according to Gallup research. However, employees with higher levels of curiosity are more likely to be engaged and find meaning in their work, leading to higher levels of job satisfaction and performance.
“... employees with higher levels of curiosity are more likely to be engaged and find meaning in their work, leading to higher levels of job satisfaction and performance.”
Getting Technical
Today’s technology both advances and deters curiosity in several ways. On the one hand, most people have easy access to information on a global scale as well as diverse learning opportunities on essentially any subject that interests them via a variety of digital platforms. On the other hand, people may experience “information overload” and have difficulty filtering out relevant and reliable details and sources. Social media algorithms and search engines actually tailor content to our preferences, creating “echo chambers” that expose people only to information that aligns with their existing beliefs, impeding open-mindedness and critical thinking.
Make Up Your Mind
How can you foster your own curious mindset?
Stay on the lookout for new opportunities to expand your world, whether it’s through books, webinars, videos, podcasts, or instructor-led training.
Set aside time to learn each day if possible. Take “brain breaks” to recharge physically and mentally.
Ask questions: Challenge assumptions, think outside the box, and embrace diverse perspectives. Try to be macro-focused or micro-focused on a topic for a new perspective.
Devote time to thinking, especially out in nature. Visit interesting places and really try to be present in them.
Engage with others who have similar and dissimilar interests; hold discussions, share ideas, and collaborate on projects.
Pique Their Interest
Now, what about inspiring curiosity in others—for example, employees or customers? To capture their attention, you can:
Pose thought-provoking questions: Asking open-ended questions can stimulate critical thinking and generate new ideas. Thought-provoking questions challenge conventional wisdom and prompt curiosity-driven investigations.
Share new information or statistics: Research intriguing facts related to a topic your team is working on. Novelty has the power to arouse curiosity and encourage further insights.
Provide access to a variety of resources: These can include articles, websites, or online courses.
Foster a supportive environment: This goes back to the psychological safety concept: create a safe, non-judgmental space where people feel comfortable asking questions and expressing their curiosity. In meetings, encourage a culture of inquiry and open discussion. Welcome diverse perspectives and encourage curiosity-driven discussions.
Encourage risk-taking: Reward curious people who step outside of their comfort zones and solve problems in unique ways. Embrace failure as a learning experience, and make sure the team learns from them.
Stay open to feedback: In addition to providing feedback, look for feedback from others and use it as an opportunity to adjust the course if necessary.
Make An Impact
By consistently cultivating your team’s curiosity mindset, you can help them realize their true potential and create a culture of learning, creativity, growth, and innovation. This “curiosity culture” ensures that you and your organization can quickly adapt to changes and make progress under any circumstances.
Curious about how Solutions Arts can help you create a culture like this?