Curiosity impacts everything from job satisfaction to personal growth. But how is it changing the future of learning and education?
As soon as we’ve made our way into the world, we explore through natural curiosity, asking limitless questions and exploring without fear. When we get older, it’s easy for that curiosity to wane, particularly as life speeds up and learning becomes a means to an end. But curiosity has the power to transform the way we work and learn.
By allowing ourselves to be disrupted and to follow our natural curiosity, we can open our minds to innovative ways of thinking and teach ourselves new ways to engage, behave and perform.
From a business perspective, a curious nature opens our minds to new ways of thinking, leading to a more flexible and dynamic attitude to work. People who are constantly asking questions develop better critical thinking skills and are more likely to become business leaders as a result. According to a study by Francesca Gino at Harvard University, just 24% of 3000 workers studied reported feeling curious in their jobs, and 70% said they faced barriers when asking questions. Meanwhile, the study found that when used in the right way, curiosity had the power to boost a company’s commercial value, by improving decision-making and enhancing innovation.
And, the power of curiosity expands well beyond the world of work.
When Canon Australia partnered with Dr Maria Kangas of Macquarie University’s Department of Psychology to study the impact of curiosity, they discovered that it broadens people’s horizons and helps them to retain more information. The research also suggested that curiosity can help us to connect with strangers on a deeper level and build better, stronger bonds with people.
It’s clear that curiosity can drive meaningful relationships, job satisfaction, productivity and personal growth. So, what can we do to drive curiosity forward and reap its benefits?