‘Just like exercise keeps our muscles fine-tuned and ready for action, curiosity does the same for our mind’ – Garrett Moon

For Steve Jobs and his team at Apple, curiosity led to the creation of a device that combined the functionality of a mobile phone, a music player (iPod), a digital camera, and personal computing technology into a single device: the iPhone. Not only did it transform the telecommunications industry, but the iPhone also had a profound impact on how people communicate, work, and access information globally. 

Similarly, Larry Page and Sergey Brin, the founders of Google, pioneered the development of an innovative search algorithm known as PageRank through their curiosity about organising and accessing large amounts of information on the Internet. PageRank ultimately revolutionised web search, laying the foundation for Google’s dominance as the default search engine. 

When we adopt a curious mindset, we begin to think more creatively and deeply in order to come up with innovative solutions. This can not only increase engagement in work and, therefore, improve enjoyment levels but, importantly, reduce the risk of burnout. 

Furthermore, curious people are more comfortable asking questions to those around them, creating a diverse network of connections, which is critical to career development and success. 

How To Enhance Personal Curiosity:

• Embrace a beginner’s perspective: Stay receptive and actively seek fresh approaches to tasks.
• Engage in enquiry: Prioritise understanding over providing explanations. Pose enquiries, actively listen and keenly observe.
• Explore the unfamiliar: Venture down unconventional paths, delve into unexplored literary or musical genres or visit cafes and shops outside your usual preference. These experiences broaden your perspective.
• Cultivate wonder: Seek out diverse opinions, viewpoints, and methodologies from other friends or colleagues. Recognise the value in diverse approaches, as they may reveal innovative solutions to challenges. 

As organisations, curiosity helps us to adapt to changing market conditions and external pressures by providing fresh and unique perspectives. In 2021, the SAS institute surveyed nearly 2,000 managers globally (more than 350 in the UK) in order to understand the importance and value of curiosity in the workplace. 

Here are some key findings from the survey:

1. Almost 7 in 10 (69%) of UK managers believe curiosity is a very valuable trait in employees, with over half (53%) strongly agreeing that curiosity drives real business impact. Exactly half believed that employees who have more curiosity are higher performers. 
2. More than half the managers surveyed agreed that the benefits of curiosity include greater efficiency and production (56%), more creative thinking and solutions (55%), greater diversity of thoughts and perspectives (54%), and greater employee engagement and job satisfaction (52%),
3. However, many organisations and managers remain hesitant to encourage curiosity in the workplace, with almost 1 in 5 believing curiosity adds no value to performance. About 1 in 3  of UK managers felt curiosity leads to greater difficulty in coming to a final decision (33%) and in managing employees (30%). 

As Francesca Dino highlights in her article for the Harvard Business Review, ‘although leaders might say they treasure inquisitive minds, in fact most stifle curiosity’. Therefore, in order to successfully encourage curiosity in the workplace, organisations must take a proactive approach. 

How To Encourage Curiosity In The Workplace: 

• Build Safety: Create an environment where employees can feel comfortable asking questions, taking risks or sharing ideas without fear of judgement.

• Supply Learning Opportunities: Offer training programs, workshops and resources that permit employees to expand their knowledge and skills in their areas of interest. 

• Celebrate Curiosity: Recognise and reward employees who demonstrate extended curiosity. Highlighting and praising curious behaviour reinforces its importance.

• Nurture Autonomy: Allow employees the freedom to explore their interests and pursue projects that spark curiosity. Allow them to take ownership of their work and encourage experimentation and creativity.
• Encourage Collaboration: Create and support interactions between different teams and departments in order to promote shared knowledge and ideas. 

Here at Curzon PR, we offer yearly enrichment opportunities to employees. No matter how junior or senior, each employee receives a grant of £1,000 put towards fulfilling their curiosity and extending their knowledge. 

‘In the dynamic world of PR, staying ahead is key. Offering learning credits to our colleagues isn’t just an investment in our team’s growth but also a catalyst for excellence in what we do. Every learning opportunity seized by our colleagues is a great opportunity for us to learn from their newfound knowledge and experience vicariously. Does it not sound like a win-win?’ – Priya Joshi, Curzon PR, Talent Manager

As business leaders, we must not shy away from curiosity and ensure that all professionals are guided towards exploring what intrigues them. Cultivating a thirst for knowledge can create a healthy, creative working environment that opens the doors to successful and innovative thinking.

Curzon PR is a London-based PR firm working with clients globally. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our Business Development Team [email protected]