Curiosity: 5 Powerful Questions You Can Ask Today
The opposite of curiosity is apathy.
You don’t need to be smart to be curious, but asking questions makes you smart. If curiosity is for children, give us more children.
Transformation begins with a question.
5 symptoms of lost curiosity:
- Stress increases. Curious people find answers. People who know defend answers.
- Brains shrivel. Your brain needs exercise just like your muscles. Asking questions strengthens your brain.
- Satisfaction declines. “I wonder if,” makes you pay attention.
- Stagnation takes root. In a turbulent world, lack of curiosity defeats you.
- Opportunities go elsewhere. “Could we…,” is a beginning.
5 advantages of curiosity:
#1. Self-discovery.
Be curious about yourself. Know what makes you tick so you can bring your best. Mindlessly working is dissatisfying.
#2. Relationships.
Curiosity about people enables connection. Some people protect themselves with walls, but gentle questions break barriers.
#3. Resilience.
You learn from failure when you notice what went wrong. When you learn from failure the future is brighter.
#4. Collaboration.
Inquiry is the foundation of collaboration.
- How might we work together?
- What opportunities can we seize together that we can’t alone?
- How can we support each other?
#5. Playfulness.
Dr. Stuart Brown, founder of “The National Institute for Play”, states, “Not only does having a playful atmosphere attract young talent, but experts say play at work can boost creativity and productivity in people of all ages.”
Curious people:
- Make better decisions than know-it-alls.
- Explore.
- Ask open questions.
- Find solutions. You might not solve everything, but curiosity drives solution-finding.
5 Simple questions you can ask today:
- What if?
- What else?
- How could we?
- What about?
- What’s next?
How could you be curious today?
Saturday Sage: A Playful Life Is a Better Life
The Single Best Way to Respond to Questions
Great points, Dan. I love these comments.
–“I wonder if,” makes you pay attention.
–Transformation begins with a question.
–Some people protect themselves with walls, but gentle questions break barriers.
–Be curious about yourself. Know what makes you tick so you can bring your best.
Thank you Paul. A good word is fuel for the journey.
Great points. When we “arrive” we tend to lose our curiosity and our sense of wonder. I appreciate the pointers you provide on keeping our curiosity alive and well as we lead those we are stewarding and shepherding. Excellent post!
Thanks Devotion Guy. I appreciate the encouraging word.
When we arrive we tend to lose our curiosity. Nicely said.
I appreciate these ideas and strive to maintain curiosity and continually seek new ways of doing and seeing. I have noticed, however, that a rather large percentage of people whom I know in management positions do not enjoy the “what if” and “what about” questions. While I agree these questions can bog down a process, I feel they are also important for identifying potential roadblocks or increasing efficiencies.
You are right, Amy. As you indicate, there is concern about bogging down the process.
Perhaps different kinds of curiosity help.
Early in the process use curiosity to generate opinions.
After decisions are made use curiosity to generate opinions about execution.
Once things share in motion be curious about ways to improve execution.
It’s still true that managers like stable results and change represents instability.
Such a great reminder! Especially in the education field, where we should be in constant support of the curious mind, but where many adults have lost their own curiosity.
Thanks, Sean. One of the great tragedies of life is the loss of curiosity as we grow older. Maybe it’s energy. Maybe it’s the false belief that we have arrived. Maybe we feel we don’t have time. Whatever the reason, its tragic.
“One of the great tragedies of life is the loss of curiosity as we grow older”
This was funny to me, since my curiosity, or more accurately, my asking questions helped keep me in troule throughout my personal and professional life. As a coach, I now get paid to be curious and ask provocative if not annoying questions.
It’s true. Not everyone appreciates curiosity. But like you, I found a channel where curiosity is essential.
I appreciate how your questions keep the energy going forward….
Thank you, Abigail. Here’s to success.
I am not a huge Tony Robbins fan, but I read a quote in one of his books that I think is profound. “The quality of your life is determined by the quality of your questions.” And
Wonderful quote, John. Thanks for sharing it. I’m a little curious about, “And” 🙂
I’ve always felt curiosity also drives creativity.
The 5 questions you share can be used in many ways to help innovation and design.
Asking questions also helps you connect dots and see potential relationships.
Plus who would argue with a benefit of “Asking questions strengthens your brain”?
Thanks, Nik. I think you’re right. How could creativity exist without curiosity?
Who indeed.
Great post. Have been following your blog for sometime & every post ignites a spark in the way we have to improve ourself.. Thanks for the posts..
Your passion for improvement is encouraging. It’s fun hanging around people who want to get better.
I really love this post. My manager, who inspires me every day, hipped me to your blog and I read your posts with relish almost every day. With your permission, I humbly request to use it for my next town hall meeting to inspire my team. I will give full credit to you but I would love to use these thoughts as an icebreaker!
Hi, GSH. Thanks to your manager. People all I’ve the world use these short posts as conversation starters in meetings. I would love it if you did too.