Curiosity @Work
Most of us have heard of the prestigious Fortune 500 list.? For the last 70 years it has been a tradition to aggregate the largest industrial corporations in the US (by revenue), furnishing a badge of honor to those organizations that reach this lofty level.? What you may find interesting is that less than 10% of the companies that were on the original list are still on it today.? One of those organizations that was previously on the famed Fortune 500 list was Kodak.?
I hate to pile on to the decades of criticism Kodak has endured, but they are unfortunately a prime example of why curiosity is so important – both for organizations and individuals. Despite being one of the first to the market with a digital camera, their fatal flaw was their absence of curiosity about how transformative digital photography could be.? They lacked a demonstrated desire to learn more about something… to consider something new.? Instead, they worried about cannibalizing their existing film business, and the rest as they say is history.? Ultimately, Kodak’s demise was a consequence of their unwillingness to adapt to changing market conditions.? They decided to protect their existing interests instead of investigating new ways of operating.
Sticking with the Fortune theme, earlier this month Fortune Senior Contributor Benjamin Laker wrote an article titled “Why Curiosity Might Be The Most Underrated Skill In Business”.? At its core, curiosity is about asking questions, seeking new knowledge, and pushing boundaries. In the workplace, these qualities drive problem-solving, creativity, and collaboration. Curious individuals are more likely to innovate, adapt and sustain engagement over time.? In an era where industries are being disrupted and traditional skills can become outdated overnight, curiosity allows individuals and organizations to maintain a perpetual growth-mindset.? The challenge is, I do not believe we can make someone curious.?
What we can do is create an environment that encourages and activates curiosity.? And new technologies may actually amplify our ability to do this by providing instant access to vast amounts of information.? AI tools including large language models allow individuals to explore new ideas, generate creative alternatives to complex problems and interact with digital assistants to encourage deeper exploration of topics.? ?But no amount of technology will matter if psychological safety is absent.? People are more likely to express curiosity when they feel safe to ask questions and take risks.
The reality we will all contend with over the next few decades will include constant change and the need for ongoing reinvention, reskilling and reimagining our work.? The key is not to give people “permission” to be curious and creative, rather it is to make it an expectation of their role.? Provide them with formal mechanisms like an internal Shark Tank where individuals pitch for investment in new ideas or the opportunity to pursue an internal side hustle.? Let curiosity be your compass as you navigate the evolving world of work, and avoid the fate of Kodak along the way.