Having grown up with a father who has three degrees from MIT, I realized at an early age I was rarely going to be the smartest person in the room. I suppose I could have managed that dynamic in a variety of ways. I could have quietly sat while I observed other “smarter” people changing the world. Instead, I opted to surround myself with amazingly bright and talented people with whom I could collaborate and learn. I also became really adept at asking questions. Not unlike The Elephant's Child in the famed Rudyard Kipling story, that curiosity has resulted significantly in my own growth and impact.
I’ve learned when one surrounds themselves with intelligent people. It’s notable that they all share one distinguishing characteristic; they are all insatiably curious. It’s as though each has made the word “Why?” their primary mantra in life and that learning and context fuels their understanding and intelligence. And that ability to ask “Why?” is something every single one of us has the power to do. And yet, for some reason, many of us chose not to.
WHEN CURIOSITY IS SQUASHED IN CHILDHOOD
Children are born insatiably curious. They want to understand everything, and they absorb it like little human sponges. Somehow when children are small, we encourage them to ask their questions and cheer them on as they learn. By the time they reach school age, this previously rewarded behavior can begin to be stifled. Often parents lose patience for answering more sophisticated life questions. “Where do babies come from?” can result in a made up story, (did parents really think “the stork” was a reasonable explanation?) or avoidance of the question altogether. Overworked or unengaged teachers trudging through their curriculum will limit the time students can ask questions for fear of getting off course. Yes, some amazing parents and teachers encourage this question asking; those are the people who are fueling the education and learning. Consider Edward Land’s young daughter who launched the Polaroid instant camera with a simple question about why she couldn’t see a photograph as soon as it was taken. What other innovations are we squashing when we don’t encourage the “Why?”
WHEN YOU USE CURIOSITY TO BREAK DOWN WALLS
With the complex world we are all currently operating in, misunderstandings and misalignment are sure to follow. When we indulge our curiosity, we position ourselves to break down walls and silos. When we support the question asking, we can demystify even the most challenging of topics; and further, engage people in the process. Unlike our early childhood days when any question was fair game, we are socially conditioned to temper our question asking to avoid looking foolish. When we embrace the notion that there are no stupid questions, we further our ability to innovate and broaden our knowledge in a variety of areas.
WHEN CURIOSITY FUELS INNOVATION
It’s not essential if you are asking “Why?” or “Why not?” or “What would happen if…?” The bottom line is that questioning is the fuel of innovation and creativity. Also, when that acceptance of a diversity of mindset is embraced, collaborative and deeper relationships are more readily achievable. From there, anything is possible. Supporting this approach allows people to push boundaries rather than follow the status quo. And when that is done collaboratively, with people questioning each other in a productive, healthy way, amazing progress can be made. Albert Einstein was considered by many to be the smartest person in history. In commenting on his own intellectual horsepower, he shared, “I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious.”
WHEN CURIOSITY HELPS US CONNECT WITH OTHERS
We know the business world is changing, as is the way in which humans are connecting socially. Our work lives today are radically different than those a few decades ago. With all of that change, some people are thriving, and some are retreating. For those who are pulling back, we often see this exhibited by putting up walls, losing their curious nature, etc. This isn’t sustainable. While it might be understandable why people want to hide when things change, it’s a failing solution. We will survive and thrive in the changing world when we balance our smarts and skills with the ability to understand and work with others AND tap into our curious nature. Think about the best leaders you know. They likely have a healthy balance of these three components. Maybe they are very bright, and perhaps they are comfortable asking questions to get to the right solution. I’m betting they also balance that with an ability to understand other people’s points of view. Being curious about how others work, think, and understand is a core leadership capability.
The world is rapidly changing, and we can’t just be reliant on technology and the latest upgrades to keep us moving forward. Much of our own development and progress comes with a very simple action: just start asking questions. You will learn more. You will contribute more. And you will connect more.
Christina Luconi is Chief People Officer for Rapid7. Follow her on Twitter: @peopleinnovator