Andrew Mina

I have found working in the ‘Learning and Development’ field for over 15 years that many of my colleagues and peers often have a high level of curiosity. Curiosity can be a driver, a distraction, and even a benefactor and this goes for anyone at any level of an organisation. For those in L&D were to harness it, it would be an amazing tool to help lead, guide, coach and mentor others.

There is a phrase, that is perhaps less common today than it used to be, that goes like this: ‘he/she is jack of all trades’. The phrase is highlighting that a person has an expansive general, common and even specific knowledge that cuts across many industries, subjects and topics. These people are usually very conversational, easily interested, remembers people and places, events and stories. Curiosity drives them to constantly learn, understand, search and question. Then, perhaps, the best exam of this is found in Albert Einstein who is quoted as saying: “I have no special talent. I am only passionately curious”.

“I have no special talent. I am only passionately curious.” Albert Einstein

This drive is not something that is mechanical, but ‘normal’ way of thinking and examining the world around them. It does not need to be feed, but indeed the new thought or idea or knowledge is enough to keep the curiosity going. To, again, borrow from Einstein: “The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing.”

Another aspect of curiosity is that it can be distracting. Distracting for the individual, their family and colleagues, and innocent bystanders. When a person allows curiosity to consume their lives, time and purpose their effectiveness is diminished, their output is limited and practical usefulness could be quashed.

Recently, I have seen many times on websites, like Business Insider and Thrive Global, that it is often through the establishment of routines, patterns and preparedness that we as can become more like we desire to be as individuals, family members, colleagues and societal contributors. So when it comes to curiosity, it is about finding ways to manage and harness your curiosity. This could be  as simple as keeping a notebook like Sir Richard Branson; using your smartphone apps like: Evernote, notes and going to an extreme, perhaps, with Slack or Trello; it could be setting aside time in each day to learn something as the team does at IIH Nordic; opening new tabs in your internet browser; or simply knowing yourself well enough to follow your curiosity immediately. Tell me below in the comments how you manage and harness your curiosity.

“Take note. If you don’t take notes your ideas will get lost.” Sir Richard Branson

I believe that over time you, and those you choose to surround yourself with, will see and experience that curiosity is a benefactor. This I can be seen most often in form of ‘knowledge sharing’, especially peer-to-peer. A little while ago I joined a webinar on ‘webinar code of conduct’, now I have been working with webinars for some time now, but the introduction caught my curiosity so I duly registered and participated. The webinar was hosted by Lars Hoffman, a leader in online collaboration, and there were a few moments where my curiosity was a benefactor to the other participants and subsequently I had a few wonderful moments when the curiosity of the other participants provide me with ‘aha moments’ that will directly influence how I work.

“Curiosity is one of the most permanent and certain characteristics of a vigorous intellect.” Samuel Johnson

Finally, I would encourage you to stay curious, stay open to learning new things, to be brave enough to try something new and to be humble enough to ask questions.

Go well and take a risk

Andrew