Ignite Innovation with Curiosity: Lessons from the Screen to the Strategy Room

Sometimes, the most profound insights come from the most unexpected places. Earlier this week, I was watching a TV show and heard something that made me sit up straight: "Be curious, not judgmental." It sounded so basic, but it stuck with me and really got me thinking. That quote has been running through my head ever since, especially at work when things don't go as planned.

This saying is like a helpful nudge when I'm dealing with a tough day at the office. Instead of getting upset right away when a project doesn't work out, it reminds me to stop and think about why it happened. Being curious means trying to figure things out instead of just being disappointed or blaming someone.

I keep telling myself and my team this phrase. It helps us look at problems like puzzles we can solve. It teaches us to learn from what happened and keep asking questions that can help us do better next time. This is how we get better at what we do.

In the tech business, you can see what happens when companies stop being curious. They get stuck and stop growing because they think they already know everything. The ones who are always asking questions and trying new things, though, they're the ones leading the way today.

Remember BlackBerry? In my previous article, I mentioned them, so let's delve a bit deeper. They used to be the kings of the phone world. Everyone who was into business had a BlackBerry in their hand. I remember dreaming of owning one as a youngster. It had a keyboard that clicked, tight security, and it was great for emails. Then, something big happened. Apple came out with the iPhone. It was all screen, no keyboard, and you could touch the screen to make it work. It was different and new.

But rather than becoming curious about Apple's innovation and its rousing reception, BlackBerry remained rooted in judgment. They dismissed the touch screen and app-centric approach, perhaps seeing it as a gimmick rather than the revolution it was. They believed in their approach so strongly that they underestimated the shift in consumer desires. This wasn't just a new product—it was the dawn of a new era in communication, and they were standing at the crossroads.

BlackBerry's leadership made public remarks that downplayed the iPhone's potential impact. They believed their customers valued the BlackBerry's secure email and keyboard too much to be swayed by a touch screen. They judged the iPhone's lack of a physical keyboard as a weakness, not realizing it was seen by consumers as an innovation.

This judgmental stance cost them dearly. As the iPhone gained popularity, BlackBerry struggled to adapt. They eventually tried to enter the touch screen market, but by then, it was too late. Their hesitation, born from a dismissive attitude rather than curiosity, had allowed Apple to firmly establish itself as the new standard.

On the other hand, Apple didn't stop at the iPhone. They kept asking, "What else can we do?" They stayed curious and kept making new things. They looked at what people liked and made more of it. Their curiosity made them one of the biggest companies in the world.

Much of what I stumbled into by following my curiosity and intuition turned out to be priceless later on. - Steve Jobs reflecting on his own path

The story of BlackBerry teaches us something important. It's not enough to just stick with what you know. You've got to keep your eyes open and be ready to learn new things. When something new comes up, don't just push it away. Get into it, ask why it's happening, and what it means. That's how you stay on top, especially in tech where things are always changing.

So, here's what we can do. Whenever we see something new or different, let's not judge it right away. Let's be like kids who are always asking, "Why?" and "How?" That's the attitude that will help us make new things and come up with ideas that nobody has thought of before. Being curious is what keeps us moving forward. Let's not forget that, because in the tech world, staying curious is what keeps us in the game.