It’s often said that the world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page. I couldn’t agree more. When we explore new places, meet new people and learn about different cultures, our horizons are broadened and we become more curious individuals.
I have just returned from a short holiday to Singapore, my country of birth. Although I have been back to Singapore many times since migrating to Australia when I was only 9 year old, this trip was different. I was travelling with someone who has never been to Singapore and so, it was up to me to show her this beautiful tiny country where I was originally from.
The funny thing was, in wanting to take Mary to many of the well known tourist sites of Singapore, I found myself going to some places that I would not normally go to. Places such as Chinatown, Clarke Quay, Boat Quay, Lau Pa Sat, and Fort Canning Hill. We even want to the Asian Civilisations Museum on our last day in Singapore. Singaporean locals avoid these touristy areas but I wonder how many really know the history behind those places and how they have changed over time.
Some might say that people’s avoidance of some part of Singapore is contributing to a level of ignorance, especially in younger generations of Singaporeans. It appears that older individuals are reticent to share stories about the past with younger people; they would rather focus on the future. Personally, I find this lack of curiosity unfortunate.
Curiosity is important for future leaders as it allows them to see things from different perspectives, learn from the past and come up with innovative solutions to problems of the future. In this blog post, we will discuss the importance of curiosity, how to increase our own curiosity and how curiosity can help improve ways of working.
So why is curiosity important? Let’s take a look at some of the reasons.
- When we are curious about something, we are more likely to pay attention to it and learn from it.
- Curiosity allows us to see things from different perspectives. It helps us to be more open-minded and tolerant of others’ views.
- Curiosity is the key to innovation. When we are curious, we are more likely to come up with new ideas and find new ways of doing things.
- Curiosity helps us to build better relationships with others. When we are curious about someone, we are more likely to ask them questions and get to know them better.
So how can we increase our own curiosity? Here are some suggestions from my trip to Singapore:
- Take time to explore your surroundings. Whether you’re in a new city or just taking a different route to work, take the time to notice things that you normally wouldn’t pay attention to.
- Ask questions. When you don’t understand something, or when you want to know more about someone, ask questions. It’s the only way to satisfy your curiosity.
- Be open to new experiences. Try new things, meet new people and learn about different cultures. You never know what you might discover.
- Read, watch and listen to a variety of news sources. This will help you to see things from different perspectives and learn about new things.
- Keep a curious mind. When you’re faced with a problem, don’t just accept the first solution that comes to mind. Be curious and look for other ways to solve it.
How does curiosity help improve ways of working? In many ways!
For one, when we are curious about our work, we are more likely to pay attention to it and therefore do a better job. Secondly, curiosity allows us to see things from different perspectives, which can help us find new and innovative solutions to problems. Thirdly, curiosity helps us build better relationships with our colleagues. When we are curious about them, we are more likely to ask questions and get to know them better. Finally, curiosity helps us to stay motivated and interested in our work.
Among the many things I work on with leaders, it’s helping them improve their curiosity. Even world renown leadership expert, John C. Maxwell has written a book about it called “Good Leaders Asks Great Questions”.
So there you have it! Curiosity is important for many reasons and can help improve the way we work. We should all try to be more curious in our everyday lives. Who knows what we might discover?