We are warned: Curiosity killed the cat. But then again, we aren’t cats.
There are many situations these days that would be well served when approached with curiosity.
Take the example of someone coming to you with a request – this may be a colleague asking for help, or a client looking for a solution to a problem. Very often, the original request isn’t actually what they need. Before you start digging into what they ask to be done, be curious and understand what prompted the request in the first place. I like to say: tell me the problem you’re trying to solve, not what you think the solution is. Understanding the problem will help you determine what the best next step is. It may still be the original request, or it may be a completely different thing. Either way, you now know that you will be working on the right thing to solve the real problem.
Another situation is when working with a teammate who seems to be difficult. Staying curious lets you avoid judgment: this is a difficult person. Instead, talk with the person and find out what’s going on. Keeping judgment at bay and approaching with curiosity gives you a chance to have an open conversation and maybe understand where this other person is coming from. It also provides the opportunity to provide feedback to them if appropriate because communication stays open and safe, without judgment.
We face an ever-increasing pace of change. There’s always the new feature, the new product, the new way of doing things. Do you always adopt the latest shiny object? No. Neither do you simply write them off because they aren’t the old faithful, tried and true. Maintaining a curious mindset allows you to explore these new things, see the good and the bad, explore their possibilities and make an informed decision on what to take and what to leave. In the process, you learn and grow and stay relevant.
Approach situations with curiosity and you give yourself space to grow, to learn, to be more effective and more empathetic.
