Curiosity and its' benefits in the workplace
The end of year is an opportunity to catch up with old friends, colleagues and those in your professional networks who you may not see that often. With over 20 years in recruitment and almost 30 years in work I’ve had plenty of time to observe people’s careers from the outside looking in.
During that time I’ve wondered, out of a group of peers who started out at the same point and with similar opportunities ahead of them, why are some people more successful than others in their careers.
Success in your career will mean different things to different people. Here, I’ll define it as doing a role people enjoy that they find makes them happy and is meaningful to them. This comes with reaching a level of financial stability, meeting their needs and wants in life.
Success occurs in all industries and you know successful people when you talk to them.
So it was during these Christmas end of year drinks, there were some who have reached success whilst others have not as I observed.There was one characteristic that was on display.
Firstly, it was the level of enthusiasm and freshness they brought to the conversation. No sense of weariness here. Next was their seemingly genuine interest in me and as I watched successful people have conversations with many other people around the room, I wondered
“Could it be that “curiosity” can play a part in someone’s ability to succeed?”
“Curiosity is the engine of achievement.” Ken Robinson
The benefits of curiosity in the workplace.
It turns out there are many benefits of curiosity, not only to the person enjoying success but also in their workplace according to at least one Harvard Business Review and other studies I read.
Curiosity has been linked to the personality trait; openness. One of the five personality traits commonly used to describe our characters, openness is the most reliable predictor of our ability to embrace new ideas and our professional success.
Openness leads to more innovation and less discrimation in the workplace. Innovation is easy to understand, most of life's great discoveries began with a question. What happens if I sail in one direction across the world? Why does the sun come up every morning?
Discimination disappears when you approach a person or situation with genuine interest rather than formed views you learnt from others.
And there are other benefits too.
Less errors in our decision making process.
It makes sense that when we are curious we are less likely to search out information that confirms our views and more open to information that leads us to the best method of solving a problem. Asking questions leads us to alternatives.
Reduced conflict at work.
People who are curious are more likely to step into a team members shoes and be interested in their views rather than just getting their own views on the table and executed. Arguments become less heated and the group is able to work together smoothly and reach better outcomes.
Develops trust
Leaders who are curious generate more respect from their followers when their followers are heard and it inspires teams to develop more trusting and collaborative relationships. Greater teamwork gets better results.
Open communication supporting better team performance
Teams where curiosity is sponsored perform better as ideas and results are communicated and around a team more easily when people listen and actively take interest in others.
As explained by Professor of Psychology Todd Kashdan "by putting curiosity at the center of everything we do, means we experience daily life in a different way, asking questions means we are less likely to bring our own opinion into a situation we entered. Hence the fresh attitude brought to the conversation I’d experienced at the end of year drinks.
Kashdan's work helped us understand that we're at our most curious as children and as we grow older our instinct to explore is countered by our desire to conform. Asking questions makes us look unknowing and so we stop exposing what we think others may call, ignorance. Also most companies prefer efficiency to the detriment of exploration. As our curiosity drops away our learning slows, stagnation sets in, opinions aren’t challenged and we find it confrontational or disruptive when they are.
As a driving force when we're young, curiosity should be embraced as a motivator as we age.
If your questions aren't being heard,
speak to a Symmetry consultant today. At Symmetry we’ll listen to your questions and ask a few of our own, it’s what guides us to find the right organisation for you.
