How to Harness Curiosity for Career Success

You won’t be surprised to hear that at Leadology we are fierce believers in the power of growth mindset. In case you need a refresher, growth mindset is a term coined by Carol Dweck nearly thirty years ago, which asserts that most of the characteristics that define people are constantly developing, instead of static. 

According to Dweck, when people see failure as an opportunity for change and advancement (rather than labeling them as stumbling blocks), they are able to turn difficult situations into opportunities which ultimately leads to higher levels of achievement. 

This is in contrast to a fixed mindset, which advocates that qualities are fixed and therefore cannot be changed. 

What does a growth versus fixed mindset look like in real life? 

For example, if you say, “I’m not a good writer” then that belief acts as an easy excuse to avoid writing. The fixed mindset prevents you from failing in the short-term, but in the long-run hinders your ability to learn, grow, and develop the skill of writing. 

Meanwhile, someone with a growth mindset would be willing to develop their writing even if the first few drafts weren’t stellar. They see setbacks as an indication that they have room for improvement rather than simply accepting, “this is something I’m bad at.” 

According to Dweck, when people believe they can get smarter, they understand that effort makes them stronger. Therefore they put in extra time and effort, and that leads to higher achievement.

How does a growth mindset impact the workplace? 

Many organizations have realized the difference between adopting a fixed or growth mindset can significantly impact workplace performance. In addition to the personal development benefits, a growth mindset is critical in encouraging teams to improve through feedback, teaching employees to adopt new skills faster, and sharing the knowledge that helps both individuals and teams reach new levels of success. 

How do we continually embrace a growth mindset in our careers?

We need to be relentlessly curious. When we hit an obstacle in the workplace (or life), we need to be able to get curious about: 

1. What efforts can we make to get better?

2. What challenge do we need to address to move on from this?

3. What mistakes can we learn from the experience? 

4. Who can give us feedback to get better results? 

 Curiosity is so important because it suffocates a fixed mindset. Think about it, when we’re getting curious and exploring all of the possibilities, there’s no way you’re going to stay stuck. Curiosity is what gives us the ideas and courage to experiment and explore different solutions which will ultimately lead us towards growth and improvement. 

Curiosity: The Fuel of Development 

Curiosity isn’t only important for our own development: It’s critical for the development of those around us. For example, when I first created Activate, Leadology's Influential Communication Program for Managers, I was nervous and super resistant about e-learning after spending (and enjoying!) a career where I got to work with my clients face-to-face. In addition to the different format, I wondered if anyone would sign up for the course! Instead of stopping in my tracks because of those fears, I decided to get curious. I started thinking about what were the most important topics that people need right now, especially new managers who might be struggling with WFH life and the additional responsibilities they are faced with during crisis.

All of this started me on this path of exploration, which led me to the discovery that it’s highly valuable to help managers focus on their development - especially right now. This led me to creating my Activate course as well as getting to work with such an amazing group of managers who have also been able to grow and learn through the program. You see how curiosity broadens us? It opens our mind and expands our peripheral vision ultimately leading to more progress for all. 

 What are the benefits of curiosity in the workplace? 

1. We make fewer decision-making errors 

2. Innovation and change 

3. Reducing group conflict 

4. Opens up communication 

5. Alternative Ideas

6. Better team performance 

Roadblocks to curiosity

One of my favorite resources on Curiosity is a book by Todd Kashdan called: Curious? Discover the Missing Ingredient to a Fulfilling Life. In it, he explores how the way we see the world impacts our ability to be curious, including a few common roadblocks. 

You have the wrong mindset about exploration 

It’s hard to get curious when we’re in flight, fright, or freeze mode. When we’re latching onto an idea or sticking to status quo bias we often aren’t able to open ourselves up to the possibilities before us. For example, during a crisis we might want to stick with what’s worked in the past because we have a fear that our employees could get off track or not focus if things change. Instead, what if you viewed the same situation as an opportunity to explore and experiment with new methods which could lead to better results? 

What are Leadology’s top tips for curiosity? 

 Tip #1: Opposites 

Feeling stuck? Create a time-limited block for opposites. Ask yourself: 

1. What’s the problem?

2. What’s the typical solution?

3. What’s the opposite? 

Then, schedule a separate amount of time where you can review each opposite idea. Likely, you’ll be surprised at how opposites can become some of your best solutions. 

 Tip #2: Q-Storming 

“It’s not that I’m so smart. It’s just that I stay with the problems longer.” - Albert Einstein. 

As Brené Brown likes to say, there’s a direct connection between confidence and curiosity. She writes, “That the biggest sign of confidence is curiosity. When we know our value, we don’t have to know everything. When we aren’t confident, we prove, we please, we perfect, and we pull.”

Sometimes, we need to spend more time getting to know the problem before jumping into solution mode. When we stay curious and engage with a problem a little longer we position ourselves to ask better questions about the solutions available to us. Take time to write down all the questions you have about the problem you’re facing. What comes up?

Do you consider yourself curious? 

These are the eight most common habits of curious people. 

1. They listen without judgement 

2. They ask a lot of questions 

3. They seek surprises 

4. They’re fully present 

5. They’re willing to be wrong 

6. They make time for curiosity 

7. They aren’t afraid to say “I don’t know” 

8. They don’t let past hurts affect their future 

Looking to harness the power of curiosity in your career? Leadology offers free Manager Success Roadmaps. Click here for more information!

By Team Leadology