Curiosity. That itch that always needs to be scratched. That impulse to explore “Why?” “How?” and “What if?” Now, more than ever, fostering a culture of curiosity, where seeking answers, viewpoints, and data are encouraged, is a must for businesses hoping to stay competitive in the marketplace. Warren Berger, author of A More Beautiful Question: The Power of Inquiry to Spark Breakthrough Ideas, calls now “the era of the curious leader, where success may be less about having all the answers and more about wondering and questioning.”[1] A recent Oregon State University research study[2] examined how people performed on a creative problem-solving task. Respondents who demonstrated higher levels of curiosity showed greater success versus their peers. It’s clear. Curiosity sparks us to do great things.
That is why our Agile Attractor #12 is Insatiable Curiosity. We revel in our curiosity; acknowledging how it both humbles us and empowers us. We don’t have all the answers, but we stoke our insatiable curiosity; striving to learn and ushering in creativity, discovery, and innovation with every opportunity.
Walt Disney figured out the power of curiosity years ago. When talking about how his company continued to be inventive, he replied,
We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things, because we’re curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths.[3]
Well said, Walt.
For more of our distinctly 3Back Adages that shape our thoughts and actions, check out Agile Attractors #1-#11. Bias for Action, Laugh Often and Smile, Avoid and Eliminate Confusion, KISS, No Head Works Alone, Quality Products at a Sustainable Pace, Pride in Craftsmanship, Everyone Engaged, Clean Up, One Bite At A Time and Reality Wins.
Want to fuel your Team’s curiosity?
We’ve got a Scrum Zone conference for that.
As Always, Stay Agile.
Notes and Sources
- Berger, Warren. “Why Curious People Are Destined for the C-Suite.” Harvard Business Review. September 11, 2015. Accessed April 13, 2017.
https://hbr.org/2015/09/why-curious-people-are-destined-for-the-c-suite.-c-suite. - Hardy, J. H., Ness, A. M., & Mecca, J. (2017). Outside the box: Epistemic curiosity as a predictor of creative problem solving and creative performance. Personality and Individual Differences, 104, 230-237. doi: 10.1016/j.paid.2016.08.004
- “Walt Disney Quotes.” BrainyQuote. Accessed May 19, 2017. https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/w/waltdisney132637.html.