Activating the Gift of Curiosity
Alison Gopnik once said “Asking questions is what brains were born to do, at least when we were young children. For young children, quite literally, seeking explanations is as deeply rooted a drive as seeking food or water.”
Curiosity is an innate gift that all people have. A gift that when used wisely can bring forth many other gifts. However, the never-ending and impatient demands of this volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous marketplace can tend to stifle our curiosity.
So let me give you these 5 useful tips and exercises to help you activate your curiosity.
- Be OK to fail by welcoming uncertainty with open arms. Overcome your fears, embrace uncertainty and step out of your comfort zone.
- Read more often and read to learn. Reading broadens your perspective of the world, sparking your interest to explore further.
- Always strive to find answers by asking more questions. Be unsatisfied by just doing things without knowing the why of it.
- Explore many different fields. Be a sponge when it comes to learning. Never limit yourself to just one field.
- Slow down and prioritise time to meditate. Spending time ‘doing’ nothing but ‘thinking’ is crucial for creative problem-solving.
Curiosity should not just be a tool used during your childhood. Instead, it should be a gift that continues to be honed and utilised for the rest of your life.
In the work I do to develop 21st Century Neuroleaders, CURIOSITY is one of the 4 pillars that sit within the competency framework of Innovation alongside Imagination, Drive and Attitude.
Cheers Grant Herbert
