Curiosity drives connection.
One of the most interesting conversations I’ve ever had was with a young American couple who had just arrived in Istanbul to be missionaries for a year.
I met them on a bus I had randomly hopped on, thinking I would explore a different part of the city I had been visiting for a few days. We started chatting, and they mentioned they were heading to the annual Istanbul Tulip Festival. Never one to miss a good festival, I invited myself to tag along.
We spent most of the day together, with incredibly thought-provoking conversations about religion, values and beliefs.
We shared stories about their lives as young and newly married Jehovah’s Witnesses on their first international trip; and my life in Australia, my love of travel, my fairly strict Catholic upbringing, and how these experiences led to me visiting Europe.
We talked about our similarities (there were many) and differences (surprisingly few). I know we both walked away from that day with a deeper respect and understanding of the religions and cultures we grew up in.
In his book, A Curious Mind – The secret to a bigger life, author and Hollywood film producer Brian Grazer tells us that curiosity is what gives energy and insight to everything else he does.
For over 35 years he has sat down and had what he calls ‘curiosity conversations’ with people from all different backgrounds, professions and countries, including people as diverse as global leaders, physicists, inventors, cooks and politicians.
He reminds us not to be afraid to ask questions, because questions allow us to learn. They show the person you’re talking to that you’re interested in them, which is vital to forging strong relationships.
He describes curiosity as being like a shot of Tabasco that adds some spice, wakes us up, creates connection, and puts meaning into almost any encounter. As someone who adds Tabasco to most foods, I loved this!
Curiosity is essential when it comes to relationships. And, as we know, relationships are what drive the workplaces of today.
When we are curious about our colleagues, and we demonstrate a genuine interest in their ideas, needs, and goals, we are more easily able to build trust and rapport. This means they are more likely to share information, ideas, and feedback openly and honestly, which can lead to better decision-making, problem-solving, and ultimately, better business outcomes.
How could you be more curious today?
