Leading with Curiosity

What is the essence of curiosity and how can you cultivate and embed this in the workplace?

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"A man who asks questions cannot be lost" (African proverb)

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One way you can look at this in the workplace is by asking yourself a few questions:

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• How can you expand your perspectives?
• What is the client's experience of this?
• Which voices are missing from the strategic narrative?
• Are there any holes in your awareness?
• What other parts do you want to know more about?
• Is there more to this that you don’t know about?
• What piece is missing?
• How can you view this through multiple perspectives?

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By asking yourselves these questions, you are exploring the elephant and not being fooled by the limited perspective you have of something.? You are seeking the fuller truth.

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Curiosity has such an energy to it that is open, exciting, expansive and simply contagious and so when you lead with curiosity the empathy circuitry will mean that those around you will feel the same and you will create the curiosity contagion and have useful and hopefully fun explorative conversations

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The family learning festival in the UK takes place every October and this year the theme is 'Inspiring Curiosity’ and this got me really excited like a cat that’s seen cream.? Seemingly, this is how it progressed with those I was having conversations with.? The vision was set, I was on a mission, and everyone saw cream.?

The contagion was off the scale, and this is how I know that when your vision and mission is clear, people will want to help you with that mission.? So, I picked up the phone and purposefully bumped into key people whom I wanted to get involved and the cream just kept giving, the curiosity bug was alive an kicking.

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In under two weeks:

15 cross-curricular activities planned        

9 tutors signed up to lead events        

10 partners signed up to collaborate and offer free venue and light accomplishments        

3 colleagues to help as co-organisers including a tech person for the online events        

Information governance agreement        

2 colleagues signed to help with marketing        

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Not everyone said YES, actually only one person said No they weren’t able to this time due to other commitments and quickly added they were willing to develop a Magic Numeracy resource for someone else to deliver a sparky conceptual game and activities that ignite curiosity and infinity and of course I said, “Bring it On!”???

The truth of the matter is this came with ‘Ease and flow’ and the clarity I had in my mind of who was going to help me make this happen.? And once you love something and the key here being ‘love’, others feel the love you have and this spreads to them.

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And for the nine tutors that signed up to lead workshops, I didn’t ask them what to do.? Once we started talking, getting all excited, think of the what about, what it, the multiple perspectives, embodying curiosity and the love for learning they came up with their own activity and of the 14 activities there is no duplication - Isn’t that amazing?? It is amazing to operate from a place of giving and contribution.

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"Remember Lewis Carroll's classic tale 'Alice in Wonderland'? The story follows Alice, a young girl whose curiosity leads her to follow a white rabbit down a rabbit hole, embarking on an adventure through the fantastical world of Wonderland.

In the workplace, cultivating a similar sense of curiosity can expand our perspectives, uncover hidden potential, and inspire creativity.? What wonderland can you help to co-create?

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So, when Joseph Campbell says that, “Follow your bliss and the universe will open doors where there were only walls”.?? When this happens do you notice it, do you celebrate, do you jump out and down like the cat whose got the cream?

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Five Tips for getting into a curious mindset:

1. PQ Reps: Practice Positive Intelligence Quotient (PQ) reps and make this a lifelong habit
2. Deep Breathwork: Engage in deep breathing exercises to calm the mind and enhance focus, making it easier to approach situations with curiosity.
3. Intercept Negative Thoughts: Be mindful of negative thoughts and self-talk, as these can hinder curiosity. Intercept these thoughts and replace them with more positive and curious ones.
4. Embody Joy and Fascination: Curiosity is often associated with joy and fascination. Embrace these emotions and let them guide their exploration.
5. Be Open: An open mindset is essential for curiosity. Be receptive to new ideas, perspectives, and experiences.

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Curiosity is a easily accessible and powerful tool for personal growth and kick-starting innovation and making it a sustainable practice and strategy for daily and long term success.?

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Get curious, get energised. ?