Curiosity is a great quality to have in the workplace. People who are curious are more likely to examine problems from different perspectives and come up with innovative solutions. They’re more likely to be lifelong learners who are constantly developing and enhancing their skills and abilities. Curious employees tend to be creative employees. And they’re often a big asset to their teams.

We were all curious when we were young. But curiosity is a quality that can sometimes be lost as we get older. It’s not always encouraged. There’s an old saying – “curiosity killed the cat.” Many of us were taught that curiosity can get you into trouble and you should stick with the status quo.

So how can you become curious again? What can you do to rediscover this quality? Author Greg Blatt has a few suggestions:

  • Allow yourself time to think and learn – When you’re faced with a problem at work and you don’t need to take immediate action, give yourself a little time to reflect. Take the time to consider all of your options and possibly discover new ones. In addition, if you ever have downtime at work, try to spend some of it investigating a topic that interests you. Learning about new things can help to further spark your curiosity.
  • Be willing to listen to new ideas – When a coworker voices a new idea or opinion, don’t judge it immediately. Listen to what your coworker has to say, and try to be open to new ways of doing things.
  • Don’t be afraid to ask questions –If you don’t fully understand something, ask about it. Asking questions is one of the best ways to indulge your curiosity and improve the quality of your work. Your questions might help you and your coworkers to uncover new possibilities, collaborate more effectively, and develop your ideas more successfully.  
  • Get used to feeling a little uncomfortable – It can sometimes be a little uncomfortable to question the status quo and examine issues from a new perspective. But if you can stomach that feeling, the payoff will be worth it. Being curious, asking questions, and learning new things is tremendously rewarding. And ultimately, it will be beneficial to your whole team.

…

Blatt, G. (2020, April 7). Curiosity in the workplace: How to develop an inquisitive attitude and become a better leader. Thrive Global. Retrieved from: https://thriveglobal.com/stories/curiosity-in-the-workplace-how-to-develop-an-inquisitive-attitude-and-become-a-better-leader/