Exercise your curiosity in the workplace!

What comes to mind when you think of the word curiosity? In its purest form, I imagine a child picking up a shiny beetle in the grass to get a closer look.  With that kind of image, it can be difficult to make the connection between curiosity and professional development.

Curiosity can (and should!) be a part of our day-to-day at work. The simple act of getting curious and acting upon curiosity has helped our coaching clients make new connections, deepen their expertise, and even secure new job opportunities in new departments within their organizations. 

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Using curiosity in your career means going from unbridled curiosity to intentional, productive curiosity. I’ll share a few tips on how to use curiosity as a powerful tool to advance your career and make the workplace experience more playful:

1. Cultivate a Curious Mindset

A curious mindset begins with the willingness to seek out new information. It involves a proactive approach to learning and a genuine interest in understanding the world around us. Leaders with a curious mindset often lead their teams to new heights by encouraging innovative thinking and continuous improvement.

💡 Take action: When you want to learn more about a process or project, use open-ended questions and statements during meetings and discussions. Questions or statements like “Help me understand why we do it this way” or “I’m wondering what would happen if we tried a different approach…” can open the doors for discussion, improvement, and innovation. (Find out why we aren’t big fans of the word “why.”)

2. Deepen Your Expertise

Curiosity drives us to explore new areas of knowledge and deepen our expertise. By continuously seeking out new information, we can stay ahead of industry trends and bring fresh ideas to our roles. This proactive approach to learning can make you an invaluable asset to your organization.

💡 Take action: Dedicate a few hours each week to learning something new related to your field. This could be through reading articles, attending webinars, or taking online courses.

3. Build Better Relationships

Curiosity fosters better communication and stronger relationships. When we show genuine interest in others, we build trust and rapport. This can lead to more effective collaboration and a more cohesive team environment.

💡 Take action: Take the time to learn about your colleagues' interests and experiences. Ask questions and listen actively to their responses. This can help you understand their perspectives, which makes working together easier and more effective.

4. Identify New Opportunities

Being curious about different aspects of your organization can reveal new opportunities for career advancement. Understanding how other departments work and what challenges they face can position you as a versatile and valuable team member, opening doors to new roles and responsibilities.

💡 Take action: Request informational interviews with colleagues from different departments. Learn about their work, challenges, and successes. This can provide insights into potential career paths and opportunities for collaboration.

5. Differentiate Between Productive Curiosity and Distractions

This is possibly the most important tip. Curiosity is beneficial until it leads to distractions or non-productive behaviors. Endless internet searches or social media scrolling can drain your time and energy without providing any real value. Productive curiosity, on the other hand, focuses on activities that level up your knowledge and skills.

💡 Take action: To keep your quest for learning productive (and avoid the career doom scroll), ask yourself “What am I trying to learn?” before starting your search. Then, give yourself a timeframe to work within. Setting objectives will help keep your curiosity focused and productive.

Side Note: If you are looking for a program that offers Curiosity as part of a New Careerist Learning and Development offering check out Real Time Learning at NimblyWise.

Conclusion

Curiosity is a big YES from us. Curiosity breeds innovation, deeper conversations, and it’s a great way to infuse excitement into the workday. Cultivate a curious mindset and you might just contribute to creating an entire culture of curiosity on your team.

At Get Courageous, we believe in the power of curiosity and its ability to drive personal and professional growth. Explore more tips and strategies on our blog, and join us in fostering a culture of curiosity in the workplace.

Stay curious, and keep learning! Explore.