Curiosity is critical for developing an idea-generating mind. It helps you achieve greater results and feel prouder about yourself. It’s a trait all professionals need to lead effectively and, when used to your benefit, can help you succeed every day.
How do you develop and focus your curiosity? During the latest trip to Los Angeles, I’m reminded how being in a community with others is a great way to hone in on your curious mind, and getting the chance to interact with executives can help you curate your curious mind.
Here are three ways to leverage your curiosity.
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Seek Spaces Where You Can Be Curious: put yourself out there in the real world. That’s the easiest way to see new things. And when you’re exposed to new things, you want to keep seeing and learning new things. That’s curiosity at work: wanting to learn new things.
The NMGZ Community is a great place to find a safe, encouraging space for curiosity. Being in a new city surrounded by new people is a perfect environment for curiosity. I found myself talking to those around me and listening closely to what they were doing on their campuses, what they most liked about the trip, etc. Question-asking and closely listening to peers is a great way to enhance your curiosity with a safe network around you.
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Ask the Right Questions: in Los Angeles, we participated in several focus groups or “strategy” sessions where company executives asked us questions. Attempting to get a good feel for what Gen Z views, perceives, and interacts with their brands, they wanted to identify ways they could improve their strategy in targeting us as consumers. It was a great opportunity to express our opinions to major brands and communicate what we value that would hopefully make a difference.
However, what I took away from these focus groups was that question-asking is an ultimate skill. We visited The Wonderful Company and after several hours when company research executives asked us questions about our values, goals, and aspirations, it dawned on me: they were curious. The executives wanted to learn more, and they had a game plan. They had strategic questions to get us talking about what we were passionate about and what was personal to us, so they could learn what we liked. By wanting to complete their research and enhance their brand, they targeted their curiosity toward what we valued as persons, not just consumers. That’s what it felt like to me – people curious about other people, and that’s what really matters.
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Apply Your Curiosity: A few months before LA, I had the chance to utilize my curiosity with NMGZ by leading an executive conversation with Al Roker from NBC. My co-host and I researched him and came up with questions to ask him so we could learn from his immense experience in news broadcasting. What surprised me the most from his stories and thoughts was his statement that he is curious every day. Even though he has seen everything there is to know about weather and business, he is still curious. He uses that curiosity to become a better person and make innovations.
Applying your curiosity can look different to everybody, but the result is the same: you ask questions, you find answers, and you become better. You’re a better person and a better community member. Leverage your curiosity in your personal network – and in the process, you’ll achieve more as a professional and a person. Create and use your valuable ideas – like The Wonderful Company and Al Roker- to improve society.