Make Curiosity Work for You

We are all born with a certain amount of curiosity; it’s the reason we get ourselves into trouble as children. But fast forward to adulthood and ask yourself: how curious am I today? Our tendency to be natural explorers seems to wind down as we age. Here’s the good news: by taking thoughtful steps toward making exploration and learning a central part of your life, it is possible to reignite your natural curiosity. No one can afford to be passive about their knowledge base – especially those of us who are leaders of people.

As a curious adult, the path to learning has no mandatory endpoint. If you allow one curiosity to fold into the next, you’ll set yourself up for a never-ending learning agenda. This principle holds true in both the personal and professional settings. In business, when we ask questions about what we do not understand, we open the door to new ideas, new processes, or new products. Curiosity is the antidote to the status quo.

Leaders should continuously challenge the present state of affairs, looking for any possible way to improve. Equally as important is a leader’s ability to encourage curiosity within their organization. I love to ask this question: “If you became CEO of this business tomorrow, what would you do differently?” The answers that follow have been some of the most productive of my career. Importantly, when leaders solicit ideas, they should be prepared to be open-minded to the response. We need to pursue thoughtful, meaningful conversation no matter how squirrely the idea may sound on the front end. You never know – that crazy idea might just materialize into something big.

Any leader or aspiring leader would also be wise to remember that curiosity also applies to relationships. Building strong relationships, with partners both inside and outside of your organization, is a key feature of being an exemplary leader. And how does any one of us build relationships? Through conversation. In my experience, the most satisfying conversations are those that include curiosity from both sides. As you work to build your curiosity muscles, remember that person-to-person conversations are the perfect place to practice asking questions. You’ll inevitably learn something, and the other person may even feel flattered by your interest.

What does it look like to travel through life and work with a full tank of curiosity? Imagine this: the next time you find yourself traveling through a wide-open space, whether literally or metaphorically, and a side road catches your eye, you don’t just pass by. You explore. In the professional context, remember that a leader committed to learning and growth doesn’t push right past a new idea or suggestion but instead, asks to learn more. This month, make curiosity a personal priority – you never know who you might inspire.

published Nashville Business Journal