DID CURIOSITY REALLY KILL THE CAT OR WAS IT SOMETHING ELSE?
I don’t believe curiosity really killed the cat. That old adage does a disservice to the impact curiosity can have on leadership, organizations and society. Being curious is what has led to many of the great discoveries in history. Thomas Edison, Christopher Columbus and Bill Gates were each driven by the desire to seek new insights, discover possibilities and imagine something different.
The challenge is that when we are faced with ambiguous and uncertain dynamics – much of what surrounds us today - our instinct is to hold on to what we know. Rather than opening our minds to learning, in pressure packed environments, we become anxious. It is well-established that when our “anxious brain” is triggered, our IQ actually drops and we cling to entrenched thought patterns leaving us with practices more focused on preservation than real creative problem solving. This lack of curiosity can limit our ability to adapt. Given the economic and social disruptions we are facing, embracing curiosity is what can enable us to confront these challenges with far greater resilience.
Substantial research has supported the notion that curiosity is one of the cornerstones to empathetic and impactful leadership. It enhances collaboration and employee engagement while reducing the likelihood of a culture of confirmation bias (seeking only opinions that support a decision). Further, it leads to an open willingness to identifying blind spots that can negatively impact decisions.
With all that, what does it mean to be curious? It is the recognition that situations are multifaceted, complex and offer multiple solutions. It is a desire to explore new and uncertain ways of framing problems, actively listening to different perspectives. It is operating in a state that is free from right and wrong perspectives – either internally or externally imposed. It requires a willingness to be vulnerable to new thoughts. Being curious takes courage.
As you face your next challenge, I encourage you to nurture your curiosity. When that old feeling of anxiety pops up, take a breath, square your shoulders and create space to wonder. Ask new questions and listen – actively listen for nuggets of insight that can offer a new way of looking at something. Allow yourself to imagine new possibilities. Be curious about what you don’t know, haven’t thought of, and had not imagined. I am certain that curiosity did not kill the cat - curiosity gave it nine lives. Old age is likely what got it in the end.
Where will curiosity lead you?
Happy Friday
