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When we’re young, curiosity often guides us. Kids constantly ask questions, follow their interests down rambling paths, learn new skills, and adjust their knowledge and ideas as they take in everything around them. As many parents and caregivers can attest, it’s admirable and fun to watch.
Then, many of us seem to grow out of our curiosity. We start believing that what we know is right. We become a bit fixed. I’m sure this is in part because Western schooling doesn’t reward us as much for the way we think as it does for having the right answers. Another reason may be that it often feels vulnerable to be curious: you’re essentially saying, “I don’t know” about everything you pursue.
Yet, I think curiosity may be the medicine for much of what is ailing us right now. It’s a difficult moment in time, and I think we're all grappling with how best to take care of ourselves and continue to show up with some degree of presence. Right now, we don’t know… a lot. We don’t know how the rapid political, social, and technological changes will impact us, we don’t know what people on the other side of the metaphorical aisle think and feel on a personal level, and we don’t know how to process the information overload we feel at the end of nearly every day.When you stop and really think about it, we don't know much, and that’s okay. We don’t need to know, but given that amount of uncertainty, we do need to transform how we navigate the world, communicate, and engage with everyone around us. Curiosity is a way to find a more purposeful and fulfilling existence, even against a backdrop of not knowing.Curiosity is a fundamental human trait that, when truly activated, can make space for so much discernment, empathy, and calm. It compels us to look beyond: beyond our comfort zone, our points of view, and our often self-made and self-maintained echo chamber. It compels us to look beyond ourselves. It’s an expansive force, and because of that, it’s fuel for both personal and professional growth.Curiosity has the potential to enrich our relationships and deepen our understanding of people, perspectives, and cultures that are different from ours. It encourages us to explore people and experiences rather than judge, to seek other perspectives and approaches rather than cling to our own, and to meet uncomfortable ideas with a question mark rather than period. And that question mark is the bridge between us, everyone, and everything else.
Curiosity is boundless. Really. It’s such a decentralizing and generative force that it can help us jump over quite a number of mental, emotional, and psychological hurdles. Here are a few ways you can benefit from using curiosity to guide you.
Let’s face it, most of us live in bubbles that confirm what we think we know already. Our social media feeds are a parade of perspectives that support our beliefs and validate our thinking. We read news sources that affirm our general view of the world and have friends who are within a few degrees of our own stances on things (family, perhaps not so much). This zone of comfort is all of those things: affirming, supportive, and validating. But it’s also limiting. It makes it hard to understand everything outside of that zone. But curiosity can help.
A bubble can be popped from any direction, not just one. When we start to get more curious, we start to resist binary thinking, and that can open up a world beyond “this-or-that” and “us-versus-them” thinking. Asking questions about opposing perspectives moves you to a place of more neutrality. “What values inform those ideas? What might we have in common that isn’t obvious?” While we might not ever become close friends with the people or groups we’re questioning, we can at least recognize their humanity and acknowledge the mental boundaries of our bubble.
Bonus: this tactic can actually calm your mind when faced with points of view that piss you off. By asking questions, you can (sort of) bypass your emotional knee-jerk reaction and get to a place of trying to make sense of it.
Curiosity is an alternative reaction to confusing exchanges, conflicts, or misunderstandings. We’ve all had tough moments with our life partners, colleagues, and people with whom we just generally disagree. These tough moments might be about our behavior (or theirs), a chosen strategic direction, or social issues. It’s hard to have productive conversations when you disagree with someone. Often, our instinct is to get defensive. But by genuinely asking questions and being inquisitive about other people's reasoning and how they got to their conclusions, we make space for dialogue and debate.
Now, I’m no good at this, but I know there’s value in it. When you ask questions, you're indicating that you're paying attention and that the other person matters enough that you want to participate in a more meaningful exchange. This is when confrontation can turn to conversation and, in turn, ease some of the tension. Instead of saying, “Wow, that's a really crappy idea,” or “You don’t know what you’re talking about,” we can ask, “How'd you get to this conclusion?” or “What led you to believe this?” This creates a dynamic conversation that could lead to learning something that we don’t already know.
Why do you believe what you believe? What is the rationale for your points of view? Because of the two points above—our personal echo chambers and our general suckiness at hard conversations—many of us have never really interrogated our own perspectives. We haven’t spent time mining for our biases and blind spots because we’re too busy validating or defending them.
Applying curiosity to ourselves is a great way to get to the roots of our thinking. This not only raises our self-awareness but also hones our skills in asking others similar questions.
Emotional curiosity is essential for strong, meaningful relationships with everyone in your world—partners, friends, coworkers, acquaintances, neighbors. You can think about it in really basic terms: What is it like to go to dinner with somebody who asks you nothing? It’s no fun, and it’s really hard to connect. Curiosity teaches us what makes other people tick and why they tick that way.
By getting curious in all of our relationships, we deepen connections. And, in the aggregate, we start to develop heightened emotional intelligence because the more people with whom we have genuine connections, the more we can understand others and the human condition. Our capacity for empathy and compassion grows, I think, directly from this well of understanding. It's really easy to get caught up in our personal stressors and issues—in ourselves—but when we ask questions and are sensitive to how other people are feeling, we can more easily put ourselves in their shoes.
Curiosity is innovation, right? The kinds of breakthroughs that are really important for business and society often come from curious minds who challenge the status quo and ask, “What if we tried this?” or are willing to say, “I don’t know but want to figure it out.” Curious minds don’t worry about a playbook, they get to root causes and enjoy the journey. They push back and expect more from themselves and their colleagues. By nurturing that spirit, we cultivate the ability to think creatively, solve problems, and identify new directions and paths in our workplaces, possibly even in our careers.
The great thing about expressing curiosity at work is that it begets curiosity from others. My curiosity can fuel your curiosity, and together we can embark on collaborative problem-solving. Nobody does anything good alone. Everything's better when there are more eyes on it, when there are more challenges to it, and when we're all looking for ways to improve.
We are living in an increasingly global environment and it’s critical that we each develop global consciousness. Curiosity can also help with that. If I approach you with curiosity, I open the door to you. If I'm not curious about you, I close the door on you. It’s nearly impossible to be exclusive while genuinely interested in others. If you have a desire to expand your horizons by hearing about others’ experiences and perspectives, you build that bridge I talked about above. Approaching people with a sense of wonder and excitement sparks opportunities for collective exploration.
Curiosity is a muscle we have to exercise. We have to practice it, and we have to cultivate it. We have to pause and allow our initial rat brain responses to make way for a more circuitous journey of exploration. We can celebrate uncertainty as a potential for growth. Grappling with the unknown doesn’t have to threaten your reality, it can actually be a pathway for intentional change.
We’re all searching for answers right now: how to be productive, how to unite, and how to find joy and energy. I think questions are the answer we’re searching for. So be like those pesky 5-year-olds who ask incessant questions—why, why, why, how, how, how—and tap into the curiosity advantage.
I've always hoped to make a positive impact in the world, and lately, I've been exploring sustainable investing. It's not just about making money—it's about making a difference. Recently, I had the pleasure of meeting Shannon Foreman, a remarkable human who specializes in exactly this.
Shannon is the CEO and Founder of Forethought Planning, and she's an expert in Financial Planning, Sustainable Investing, and Wealth Management. Her insights on sustainable investing are both inspiring and practical. In her words:
“You want to make change in the world. You are someone who wants to see marginalized communities rise to the ranks and drive change in companies. You're advocating for a better future, and your leadership isn't defined by a title but by your actions. As an action-oriented person committed to making a difference, it's time for you to put your money where your mouth is.
Sustainable investing is a powerful strategy to align your financial decisions with your values. By investing in companies that prioritize environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria, you can drive positive change while seeking financial returns. The financial industry is often male, pale, and stale, with a focus on profit over people. Not all advisors prioritize sustainability, so it's crucial to initiate this conversation. Align your advisor with your values, ask tough questions, and understand where your money is invested. By supporting businesses committed to sustainable practices, you're contributing to a healthier planet and a more equitable society.”
Meeting Shannon has reinforced my belief that sustainable investing is not just a trend—it's a movement towards a better future. Let's take a step towards aligning our investments with our values and making a real difference.
To learn more from Shannon, visit her at Forethought Planning. (This is not an ad or a paid partnership. I’m just sharing something I’m curious about (see what I did there?) and a resource who might be helpful if you’re interested.)
In a recent conversation with my friend, Seena Hodges, author of From Ally to Accomplice, I dive deep into the importance of sustaining the conversation around Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). We explore practical strategies, the challenges we face, and the undeniable benefits of fostering an inclusive workplace. Check it out for insights and inspiration on keeping DEI in focus always.
Read the full interview on Twin Cities Business here: “Nancy Lyons on Keeping the DEI Conversation Going.”
Everywhere I go, everyone I speak with is feeling all of the feels. The state of the world is confusing, and it doesn’t help when your workplace is going through it, too. It’s hard to focus and stay cool. I stumbled upon this list of simple, easy-to-access grounding techniques, and I found a few of them really helpful. Maybe you will, too.
See some grounding techniques on Healthline.com: “30 Grounding Techniques to Quiet Distressing Thoughts.”
Clockwork is a 2024 Inc Magazine Best Place to Work. I don’t shout out our workplace awards so much anymore because we are a great place to work. It’s a fact. And Yet! I want to relish this award because me and the leadership at Clockwork have been talking about centering people since before we even started the company. It seems like the majority of businesses are just now catching up.
I’m proud that we’ve worked to center a healthy culture in our business strategy. That culture has evolved with the times, as culture should. Our award is never the same ol’ same ol’. We’re always celebrating who we are now. And we’re always getting better.
Summer break! And...
“Curiosity is one of the great secrets of happiness.”
– Bryant H. McGill
