Why Curiousity is a Key Driver of Performance.
When I was in my 20s, I used to list 'curious' as an attribute on my resume—at the time, I had no idea how important it was in terms of our ability to show up at our best.
There was no prescribed strategy back then; I simply liked understanding stuff. Documentaries and investigative news shows at the time were a legitimate pastime.
Today, I appreciate the impact of curiosity with even greater understanding, especially in the context of coaching. In fact, we consider it foundational to effective coaching. Without it, the communication between coach and coachee is reduced to instructional directives: “Do this, change that, fix these.” In our world, that’s not coaching.
Mind you, it’s how I used to coach. I was all about the directives followed with “because I said so,” if asked “why!” Man, those were the days—no conversation, just a list of prescribed items to fix. It seemed so much easier!
Today, it’s all about the conversation and the resulting human connection. And not just because that’s an effective coaching strategy, but instead because of genuine curiosity. What makes curiosity so important is that it makes the questions or the inquiry more heartfelt. There’s a palpable difference between two people engaged in a meaningful dialogue where both parties are invested in co-creating solutions that improve performance.
That difference is discovered through curiosity, which is expressed through really good inquiry. Questions that empower the individual to discover their next steps without being told what they should be. That is effective coaching; anything else is advice. And don’t get me wrong, there’s a time and a place for that, too. It’s just that inquiry derived from bona fide curiosity will win out every time. The advice can be used later to fill in any gaps.
Curiosity also keeps us open to new learning experiences. When we lose the desire to understand new ideas, concepts, theories, and so on, we lose the ability to grow. Carol Dueck’s Growth Mindset is reliant on a curious mind first. When we decide that our beliefs are the only beliefs worth considering, we begin arguing to be right and lose out on a lifetime of learning. When research tells us that a curious mind is one more adapted for not just learning, but retention as well, it’s time to open our minds and get curious!
Here are five hacks that will fuel your curiosity:
Ask “Why” Five Times
For me, the “ya, but why?” response enables us to dive deeper into problem-solving. Utilizing a minimum of five “ya, but why’s” will enable you to uncover root causes and/or discover new perspectives. This technique, inspired by Toyota’s problem-solving method, sparks curiosity and drives innovative solutions.Schedule a “Curiosity Hour” Weekly
Dedicate one hour each week to explore a topic unrelated to your work. Read, watch, or discuss something new to cross-pollinate ideas and enhance creative problem-solving. This one’s a gooder! In the same way athletes cross-train, or musicians play other instruments, it’s important for us as creative problem solvers to be curious about things other than what pays the bills.Use the “Beginner’s Mind” Approach
Approach familiar tasks as if you’re seeing them for the first time. This mindset, from Zen philosophy, encourages curiosity, reduces assumptions, and opens us to new efficiencies. Be warned, though, to utilize this one properly, we have to really force ourselves to think differently, which is often harder than we may think—be patient.Curate a Diverse Input Diet
Consume content from varied fields and sources to spark unexpected connections, especially if those platforms run counter to your preferred narrative. This one’s huge, and I discovered its importance during COVID when it became clear to me, for example, that national news organizations were promoting a narrative that aligned with the Government. To counterbalance that, I sought to push back against that bias by following alternative sources, many times the ones I was being told to ignore. I didn’t agree with all of them, but I listened and genuinely tried to appreciate what I was being asked to consider.Embrace “Productive Failure”
Treat setbacks as learning experiences or experiments. Ask, “What’s here for me to learn?” or, as we sometimes invite, “How can this be the best thing that ever happened?” It helps turn failures into moments of information that can ultimately boost performance. Curiosity about mistakes builds resilience and enables growth. Remember, it takes some effort to reframe our failures and to, sometimes, come out from under the story we’ve made the failure mean—be gentle on yourself!
RESOURCES:
Three books to check out: click on the book’s name for more details.
Curious: The Desire to Know and Why Your Future Depends on It by Ian Leslie
Explores how curiosity drives learning, creativity, and performance, with practical strategies to cultivate it.Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World by David Epstein
Argues that broad curiosity and diverse experiences lead to better performance than hyper-specialization.The Art of Possibility by Rosamund Stone Zander and Benjamin Zander
Highlights how a curious, open mindset unlocks new possibilities and enhances personal and professional growth.
Three podcasts to check out: click to listen.
The Tim Ferriss Show—“The Most Curious Man in Hollywood” (Episode #279)
Tim interviews Brian Grazer—good enough equals shitty—on how curiosity fuels high performance, with actionable tips for lifelong learning.Rich Roll Podcast—“How Curiosity Leads to Purpose”
Meditation leader and bestselling author Light Watkins joins Rich to help tackle this question and share truths on mindfulness, faith, and fulfillment.Conversation with Adam Grant—“Value Curiosity Over Conviction”
Grant explores how embracing uncertainty and curiosity drives better decision-making and performance.
I hope these Performance Minded tips and other resources are helpful. If you have any topic suggestions or questions, please don't hesitate to reach out. Cheers!
“Curiosity is the engine of achievement.”
—Sir Ken Robinson
Helpful tips on perspective and mindset.
You're so right about curiosity, Jason. It's been driving me for many years, and I hope it never stops!