A completely underestimated quality: curiosity. It is rarely consciously taken into account or even encouraged in companies. Yet it is one of the most important elements for the success of a company – and for your life in general. Here you can find out why this is the case and how you can encourage it in your team.
Is curiosity really that important?
Let’s assume…
It is 1998. Pop singer Guildo Horn wins the preliminary round for the Grand Prix with “Guildo hat euch lieb”. You are standing in the kitchen with a pineapple and ask yourself: “How do I actually cut this thing open?”
Maybe you’re one of those people who bravely grabs a knife and experiments a bit. Or you just throw the pineapple on the floor and hope that it will burst. Maybe you try calling someone, find a cookbook in the attic, or just get frustrated and bite into the bread and butter.
Maybe you just had the thought: “I would have just googled it if I didn’t know.”
Well, in 1998, Google didn’t even exist in this form. 25 years later, however, in 2023, Google thanked all of us for our curiosity. Because it could only grow so big because we humans are curious and asked Google questions. The team analyzed the data and saw: “Exciting, a lot of people are searching for this particular term. We need to take another look at this.” Google itself reports that in 2000, many millions of people googled the green dress that Jennifer Lopez wore at the Grammys. And all that was displayed at the time were ten blue links and no green dress.
Now Google could have said: “Well, that’s just how it is.” But they reacted differently and sat down directly with the developers and found a solution to put images on the website.
This is how Google Images was born. Through people’s curiosity and the curiosity within the company to find a solution.
By the way, one could even go so far as to say that without curiosity, you would probably still be lying in bed next to your mother and she would still be breastfeeding you.
- How did you start learning to walk? Curiosity…
- How did you start eating? Curiosity…
- How did you start learning to speak? Curiosity…
- How did you start learning to ride a bike? Curiosity…
- How did each of your hobbies start? Curiosity…
What is curiosity?
There are different definitions, but they all describe a desire, a longing, an interest in discovering new things, exploring the unknown, and experiencing new things.
Curiosity is the joy of learning, discovering, and solving problems. Because if we are open, think, experiment, and try things out a little, new things can emerge.
Without them, we would never have survived as children.
What benefits does curiosity bring to companies?
For a 2022 Harvard study, executives around the world were asked what qualities leaders need in today’s world. After adaptability, curiosity came in second place.
But why? This is shown, for example, by the curiosity study by Merck (2021):
Increased innovation power
Curious employees are constantly looking for new ideas and solutions. In the most innovative companies, curiosity is considered one of the most important characteristics.
Improved problem-solving skills
Curiosity promotes critical thinking and the ability to look at problems from different perspectives. Curious employees are therefore better problem solvers.
Higher employee retention
Employees whose curiosity is encouraged feel valued and are more likely to stay with the company. Companies that invest in the learning and development of their employees often have a lower turnover rate.
How can empathetic leadership strengthen curiosity in the company?
Empathetic leadership therefore plays a crucial role in fostering curiosity in the company. Empathetic leaders understand the needs and motivations of their employees and create an environment where curiosity can thrive. They encourage their teams to ask questions, take risks and learn from mistakes without fear of negative consequences.
Benefits of empathic leadership in promoting curiosity
creating a safe space
Empathetic leaders create a culture of trust where employees feel safe to express their ideas and ask questions, making them willing to take risks and try new things.
promoting open communication
Empathetic leaders promote open and honest communication. This allows new ideas to be reflected on and developed together. A space for shared collaboration is created.
Individual support and development
Empathetic leaders recognize the individual strengths and interests of their employees and support their personal and professional development. They expand their skills, which enable them to adopt different perspectives and be innovative.
What does it take to create curiosity in your team?
What does this all look like in the working world? What does it take for your employees to develop curiosity?
1. Security
They must feel safe in their workplace. So safe that they can ask questions, criticize, and critically examine circumstances and changes.
Because when we feel insecure, when we are going through difficult times, when we don’t trust our leaders, we rely on tried and tested methods, routines and habits. People are ready to try something new, to be curious and to research when they feel valued, have support and feel safe.
2. Openness and respect
Respect and openness must also prevail in meetings with more than one team. Only then will employees dare to question existing processes, tasks and projects and openly share their opinions. If the meeting participants are biased and judge and condemn directly, then no one will dare to ask a question.
3rd mistake
If you try something new, you’re going to make mistakes. As a child, you didn’t suddenly stand up and walk perfectly. You constantly fell down and got up again until you figured out what worked for you.
You must also allow your employees to do this trial and error. If no one in your team is allowed to make a mistake, he or she will avoid any situation in which mistakes could occur. This is where everything new dies.
What this means for you: If you are already a manager or you own a company, then it is important for you to create a foundation that nourishes your team, ensures openness, respect, and security, and allows for mistakes.
By the way, various studies, including the one mentioned above by Merck and also by McKinsey, show that curiosity is an important element for the advancement of any company.
How can you encourage curiosity in your team?
First of all, the basis described above is needed, otherwise curiosity will not arise. The concept of empathic leadership helps here, which aims precisely at creating an environment in which employees feel safe, valued, seen, supported, and understood.
Curiosity often arises from this on its own. You can encourage this even further with special curiosity meetings. You regularly deal with the following questions, among others:
- Where are we?
- What works and what doesn’t?
- Why don’t some things work yet?
- What does it take to become even more efficient?
- Why does person A do exactly this and why not otherwise?
