Table of Contents
Perhaps you didn’t hear much about the importance of cultivating an inquisitive mind when you were in school or at work. On the contrary, you were probably told to follow a certain curriculum with no questions asked. therefore, you have unconsciously gotten used to accepting things as is without asking the vital question; why?
However, having an inquisitive mind or Curiosity can assist you in your career just like any other skill. Luckily for you, eight of those reasons will be discussed in the following paragraphs.
1. You will understand yourself with your inquisitive mind
An inquisitive mind will allow you to shed light on your personal questions, thoughts, and situations. It motivates you to discover the truth about the nuances of your life. When curiosity is used correctly, it will serve as a means to set personal goals, including your career goals.
As the famous philosopher, Rene Descartes once said. “cogito, ergo sum.” This translates to “I think; therefore, I am.”
2. You will discover the truth.
All things that seem apparent in life are not necessarily the truth. A curious person will often not trust entirely in the words of others that they will discover the truth for themselves. When you are curious, you will delve into the details, and when you finish your “detective” job, you not only know “what” or “when” but also “how.” and “why.”
3. You will learn more
When curiosity drives you into the unknown, you get an ever-greater amount of knowledge. You will extend the boundaries of your understanding. The more you study, the more you will want to know. Each new awareness will lead you to another more interesting challenge.
Not only will curiosity broaden your mind but it also makes the process of learning more enjoyable. By questioning things, your interest in them automatically increases which makes grasping information simpler.
4. You will become more efficient with an inquisitive mind
Curious people look at a challenge from many angles. They explore other ways to accomplish the same task, turning mundane processes more enjoyable. The more possible solutions, the more likely they are to offer a better way to get the job done.
Furthermore, to all those people who struggle with memorizing or grasping an idea for the first time, an inquisitive mind does just that. By questioning something your brain automatically stores it. So next time you are studying or working, take a second to analyze and question what’s in front of you instead of simply memorizing it.
5. You will be more active.
Thinking negatively about something unknown seems much easier than seeing it positively. If you do not understand something, or it is different from what you see every day, you will quickly consider it useless or silly. Only when you genuinely understand something can you truly appreciate it.
People tend to be more positive towards things they know, and curiosity will expand a person’s vision, increasing their understanding of the things around them. Therefore, making them more of a positive person as a whole without even realizing that will lead to a motivated and active lifestyle.
6. You will strengthen the relationship.
A study has been done with people who have never known each other, in which they have to ask and answer questions to get to know each other. Scientists have found that people are judged to be warm and attractive than those who show genuine curiosity during the exchange. This implies that showing curiosity towards someone is a great way to get close to them.
7. You become more flexible having an inquisitive mind.
When you’re curious, you don’t assume any specific answers or responses; you’re willing to listen to and absorb different ideas. This will make you more open-minded and able to communicate with everyone around you. Besides, curiosity also gives you more flexibility with uncertainty. When a stressful situation occurs at work, you will be able to handle it with less worry and be more creative. You will approach these difficult situations with a positive attitude, even fun. Or you may not have heard of this before, but curiosity is the key to effective crisis management.
8. You can become a leader in the future.
An inquisitive mind helps you think more broadly. You will learn about how others think and their views. Curiosity also motivates you to make friends with your peers, and the more you know about team members, the more you can drive and promote their talents. Your close connection with employees will help you build trust, leading to an open and positive working environment – where people are not afraid to speak up their ideas and creativity at work. And this is one of the essential elements of a talented leader.
In short, while we may think that curiosity is a small thing that doesn’t matter, it’s not true. Be curious! Because your career and your flexibility in an ever-changing career context can depend a lot on this strange instinct.