Sometimes I feel like we’ve got the concept of curiosity all wrong. You know the old saying: Curiosity killed the cat. There’s a very real sense in which our culture is wary of those who are open-minded, eager to learn new things or seek out new concepts. But I think that’s all wrong. As a leadership speaker, I encounter a number of businesses where curiosity is hardwired into the culture—and that only ever yields good things.
What makes curiosity so beneficial? For one thing, curious employees are engaged employees. Being open to new ideas and experiences leads to career enrichment, personal satisfaction, and a relentless hunger to do and learn more; when you’re curious, you can’t be complacent! Plus, those who are curious are always expanding their skillsets, often in ways that can make the entire team stronger, more dynamic.
I encourage business owners and managers to cultivate cultures of curiosity—but how? Let me offer some quick suggestions.
Encourage training. Bring in-house training sessions to your team, or else send them to conferences and seminars. Make ongoing education a core concern for your company. And don’t think all the training has to be immediately relevant to what your company is doing; anything that encourages employees to stretch themselves or think in a new way can be beneficial, even if you can’t immediately see how.
Foster collaboration. Make sure your employees are constantly working together in different partnerships and configurations; really encourage cross-discipline and cross-department teamwork. Allow your employees to be exposed to all the different talents and gifts represented on your team.
Give ownership. Be forthright in sharing the broader company vision with your team members—and solicit their feedback. Allow them to feel like they have a say in where the business is headed. Encourage them to think bigger than just their immediate tasks or daily responsibilities.
Curiosity is worth striving for—and possible to attain. Consider making it one of the central values of your business!
Dr. Rick Goodman CSP is a thought leader in the world of leadership and is one of the most sought after conference keynote speakers on leadership, engagement, and business growth in the United States and internationally.
He is also the author of the book Living A Championship Life, “A Game Plan for Success,” and the co–author of the book Jamie’s Journey: Travels with My Dad written by his sixteen-year-old daughter Jamie.
Dr. Rick is famous for helping organizations, corporations, and individuals with systems and strategies that produce increased profits and productivity without having the challenges of micromanaging the process. Some of Dr. Rick’s clients include Heineken, AT&T, Boeing, Cavium Networks, IBM, Hewlett Packard, and Franklin Templeton Investments.
You can contact Dr. Rick at www.rickgoodman.com or call 888-267-6098.
