“If curiosity killed the cat, it was satisfaction that brought it back.”

-Holly Black

Isn’t it great to be alive in a modern world? Yes, we are still in the midst of the pandemic but still, it’s great to be living in a modern and technology-based world. Where communication is constantly improving, knowledge is instantly shared and most importantly, our favorite meals are delivered right at our doorstep. All this and more are possible with just a few taps and clicks. We are so used to this convenience that we sometimes forget how we came to this standard of living. How was it possible that the smartphones we use on a daily basis have more processing power than those car-sized computers that NASA used to have? One word. Curiosity.

Being curious is awesome. It paves the way to discovery and innovation yet according to this survey, only 24% feel curious while doing their jobs. Companies today always talk about innovation and thinking outside the box yet some if not most place strict guidelines on how things should be done. If you place restrictions, it stifles curiosity which leads to a fixed or stagnant mindset. Quite frankly, that sounds boring. Let you and your team’s curiosity run wild. Explore and question things. Let the geniuses inside you do their thing. Yes, the risk of things not working out is still there but the rewards are greater. Be curious and grow.

Be Curious Yourself

How do you expect your team to be curious if you yourself are not? Show your team that it’s okay to ask questions. Show them that even though you are the leader, you don’t know everything. As was mentioned in the previous article, egos have no place in a real team. If you are curious about something, ask a team member who has expertise in the subject or you can do your own research and if relevant, share your findings with the team.

Value Failure

It may sound strange but you need to value failure. Every new idea has the equal potential to succeed and fail. If you and your team have decided to go ahead with it yet did not get the desired results then value that moment of failure. It is the perfect opportunity to examine what went wrong and try again.

Role Change

Here’s something fun you can try. Try swapping the team members and their roles for a day. Not only can this activity spark curiosity but strengthen the relationship between the team members. Expect a lot of questions between teammates during this activity which is a great way of easing them into the curious mindset.