Curiosity Cultivation Tips

When I started as a founder, I thought I knew it all. I was wrong... I soon learnt that the best founders have one thing in common: They never stop learning. And not just from mentors or advisors. - They read books.  - They listen to their teams. - They process their setbacks. In my experience, curiosity has been one of the most valuable traits in my entire career. It's what kept me evolving while building HomeServe, and it's what I look for in every founder I back through Growth Partner. Here's what I learnt about curiosity over 30 years: Early in your career, curiosity helps you understand your market. Before I even started my fishing fly business, I placed an £8 advertisement in Trout and Salmon Magazine to see if anyone wanted and called for a copy of my mail order catalogue. I got 25 calls. That was my market research done. When those fishermen's wives said my colourful flies would make nice earrings, I listened. That single comment led to a high fashion business. I've always been driven by what customers think.  Reading complaint letters, listening into call centre conversations, and getting out in the field. That curiosity about customer needs has shaped every business decision I've made. Later in your career, curiosity stops you becoming irrelevant. The moment you stop learning is the moment your business starts dying. If you want to develop curiosity as a trait: 1. Have one learning conversation each week.  Sit down with someone in your team, especially those outside your senior circle. 2. Read across disciplines.  Great ideas don't just come from business books. 3. Encourage challenge.  If nobody disagrees with you, you need to rethink who's on your team. 4. Reflect regularly.  Ask yourself what you learnt this week, what worked, and what didn't. You can't ask your team to keep evolving if you've stopped. That's why curiosity sits at the top of my list of entrepreneurial characteristics. I'd be interested to know what you're doing to stay curious.  Share your thoughts in the comments. ♻️ Repost to inspire others in your network.  And for more on how to keep learning while building,  Follow me Richard Harpin. 

I'm currently working with an organization struggling with low trust internally. In addition to undermining collaboration, performance, and engagement, the environment of low trust is eroding people's curiosity about each other and driving criticism, defensiveness, stonewalling, and condemnation. Via coaching, training, and facilitation, I'm helping people shift from judgment of others to curiosity about others. Not only is this shift important for the vitality of my client, it's crucial to individual and collective functioning and well-being generally. Indeed, the polarization plaguing societies around the world is a product of rapid judgment of others and inadequate curiosity about what drives them and what we have in common. But what if we paused for a moment? What if we chose curiosity over condemnation? Being less judgmental and more curious can transform both your professional and personal life. Here’s why: 👉 Professionally: It fosters innovation, collaboration, and better decision-making. When we approach colleagues and ideas with curiosity, we uncover diverse perspectives and solutions. 👉 Personally: It deepens relationships and helps us navigate conflicts with empathy. Instead of reacting to someone’s words or actions, we can seek to understand the “why” behind them. Here are three practical strategies to cultivate curiosity and reduce judgment: 1️⃣ Ask Open-Ended Questions Replace assumptions with questions like, “What led you to that perspective?” or “Can you help me understand your thought process?” Questions create space for deeper dialogue and understanding. 2️⃣ Pause Before Reacting When you feel triggered or tempted to judge, take a moment to reflect. Ask yourself, “What else could be true here?” This brief pause can shift your mindset from judgment to exploration. 3️⃣ Challenge Your Biases Actively seek out different perspectives, whether through books, conversations, or experiences. Exposing yourself to new ideas helps you grow and appreciate the complexity of others’ viewpoints. The next time you find yourself ready to judge, try shifting your mindset. Ask, “What can I learn from this?” and "What's it like for the other person?" You will be surprised at the insights that come your way and at how much richer and rewarding your relationships become. What strategies do you use to stay curious and open-minded? #curiosity #connection #relationships

What if your greatest career success... is also your biggest obstacle to growth? Experience is a powerful foundation but it can also be a trap. The skills and frameworks that propelled your success are deeply ingrained. So much so that, when you step into building your own path, ego may tempt you to rely on the familiar... instead of exploring the new. But genuine reinvention means releasing that need for certainty and control. It means quieting the ego so you can fully engage in creating what’s next. Here’s why that’s important: Ego, if left unchecked, doesn’t just limit growth... it blocks your ability to see new opportunities. In a recent conversation with clients, we recognized a few places where ego was getting in the way... and actionable ways to leave it behind as you enter your next chapter: 1) Identify Where Ego Limits Your Curiosity Ask yourself: Do I dismiss new approaches favoring “tried and true” methods? If you’re saying “I already know this” before you’ve taken time to explore... ego may be at play. Begin asking “What don’t I know?” or “How might I look at this differently?” and see where that openness leads you. 2) Shift from “Proving” to “Exploring” Often, we want to showcase our knowledge to maintain a sense of certainty. Instead, try approaching this phase as an exploration, not a test. Embrace the freedom to • try • adapt • learn without the pressure of immediate results. This shift from proving to exploring can release ego’s grip and free up creative energy. 3) Embrace the Beginner Mindset Stepping into uncharted territory? Rather than bringing in your “big career” identity, approach it like a beginner... with curiosity and humility. • ask questions • seek help • don’t assume you know the answers This mindset invites fresh perspectives and unlocks new avenues of learning and growth. 4) Look for Small Wins Beyond Recognition Ego often pushes us toward highly visible successes. But real transformation doesn’t need a spotlight. Seek out the smaller, everyday wins in this new chapter. • a new insight • a constructive conversation • a completed task that moves you forward Recognizing these incremental steps keeps the focus on growth, not external validation. 5) Pause to Reflect Regularly Schedule time each week to reflect. Ask yourself: “Where did I let my assumptions lead today?” “Where did I approach with openness?” This self-awareness keeps ego in check and reinforces a more flexible, growth-oriented mindset. Transformation is inherently uncomfortable, especially for accomplished leaders who are used to “having it all together.” But stepping beyond ego is essential for true innovation. In the CreateNext approach, we see it as a critical first step: letting go of the old to build what’s new. Question... In what ways might holding on to ‘proven’ methods be limiting your ability to embrace your new path fully?

Ever had a moment that shook your ego to its core? Mine happened in the year 2000. I was reviewing a colleague's code—a task I was quite good at. But this time, I paused. The code was elegant, efficient, and well-structured. Better than what I could have written. That realization hit hard. I felt uneasy. Almost threatened. On the way home, I couldn’t stop thinking about it. So I took a small detour to a bookstore and picked up the best book I could find on the subject. I spent nights trying to catch up, to learn more, to be better. But eventually, a more meaningful realization began to take shape: Growth isn't about being the best in the room. It's about being open enough to learn from everyone in the room. From that moment on, I changed how I looked at my team. I started observing, asking questions, and learning—not just from seniors, but from peers, interns, and everyone in between. Titles didn’t matter anymore. Insight did. That mindset shift—from competitiveness to curiosity—has been one of the most defining lessons in my career. Even today, 20+ years later, I still feel that same hunger to learn. The joy of being a student never really goes away. So if you ever find your ego bruised at work, take a pause. It might just be your biggest breakthrough moment. Take that moment of discomfort and turn it into fuel. Ask questions. Stay curious. And most importantly, never stop learning. What’s one humbling moment that made you grow?

From "𝐘𝐨𝐮'𝐫𝐞 𝐖𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠" to "𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝗠𝗲": The Power of Open-Minded Asking And Five Steps To Conflict Resolution👇️ When disagreements flare up, our instincts often lead us to insults or attacks on not just the opposing viewpoint, but on the person as well. This never works. Vitriolic responses close more minds than they change, making enemies out of friends and rivals out of allies. Curiosity is more effective than verbal assault if you aim to genuinely convince others. The next time you lock horns with someone, try this approach to turn disagreement into open-minded dialogue: 𝟏) 𝐋𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐧 𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐔𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝 Rather than impatiently waiting for your turn to retort, focus first on comprehending their perspective. Confirm what aspects you do agree with to build common ground. Suspend judgments as you ask clarifying questions to grasp why they came to this stance. 𝟐) 𝐊𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐥𝐲 𝐈𝐧𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐫𝐞 𝐀𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 Once you comprehend their position, drill down diplomatically: “I’m curious why you feel that way. What led you to these conclusions?” People want to feel heard before opening up, so don’t invalidate their logic. 𝟑) 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐀𝐭𝐭𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫𝐬 People are more open to hearing you after you've listened to them—without interrupting or arguing. Now, you can explain your reasoning in a non-confrontational way. Find threads of commonality between your perspectives as you clarify why you landed differently. The goal is elucidating, not conquering, the other viewpoint. 𝟒) 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐏𝐨𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐀𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 Having traded views, ask, “Where do we agree?’ Name shared values, interests, or outcomes you both see as important. This reminds you that you likely have some common ground, even in disagreements. Remember: Everyone wants the same basic things out of life. You'd be surprised how often you and your adversary agree once you get past the superficial presentation of the ideas. 𝟓) 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐒𝐲𝐧𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐳𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬 With mutual understanding built, you can bridge perspectives by asking, “How can we work together to get the best both worldviews?” Rather than clinging to singular stances, brainstorm creative solutions that integrate your collective wisdom. Heated debates often generate more hostility than progress. But by replacing reactive arguments with open-minded curiosity, you can transform conflict into wisdom-generating collaboration. Next time things get tense, set egos aside long enough to ask, “Why?” You might be surprised by what you can learn. #communication #community #onlinecommunities #personaldevelopment #connections #networking #socialnetworking

We are what we consume, not just physically but mentally. And right now everyone is getting fed the same average information, whether that’s with the same AI platforms or influencers or industry conferences and reports. What you let into your mind shapes you, and you should not be outsourcing that decision to the usual players. In today's episode of Unseen Unknown, Jean-Louis and I discuss how to be professionally curious, how to find ideas worth your attention, how to actually digest them, and how to become the kind of person other people learn from. In brief, here are eight things we dove into: 1. Know where to starve. You may want to consume more, but you need to go deeper on fewer things. Choose deliberately what to feast on, and let the rest go hungry. 2. Devotion is greater than discipline. Plenty of people learn by staying disciplined and following routines. But the ones who really *understand* are the ones who fall in love with an idea. 3. Be with obsessed people. The best teachers infect you with their passion, and you encode what they teach you on a much deeper level. The connections between ideas surface as feelings before they surface as logic. 4. Risk something to learn something. Writing, building, debating, making something and showing it to strangers are all ways of forcing an idea out of your head into a place where it can be tested. Curiosity is action, and you can't have it without risk. 5. Read pre-internet. The feed has changed but human nature hasn't, which means every scenario humanity has been through is a relevant simulation of one we'll go through again. Read books older than you and you'll see it. 6. Use rituals for letting go. You can't be curious when you're tired, anxious, or carrying someone else's low energy. Build small rituals to clear your mental and emotional state before you try to learn something new. 7. Stop trying to be productive in conversations. The disease of "How can I use this?" gets in the way of just letting an idea land. We don't need to know what something means when we first encounter it, we just have to be willing to receive it. 8. Play to change how you see. True play requires safety, and when you feel safe, your brain behaves differently. Play lets you see the same things from totally different angles, because you become a different version of yourself in the process. Watch on substack or listen on your favorite podcast platform.

Curiosity isn’t just about asking questions — it’s about creating better answers.    I’ve often found that curiosity is a barometer for engagement. When the questions stop coming, it’s usually a sign we’re tired, stretched thin or simply not at our best. But when we’re energized, curious and open, opportunities begin to appear.    Early in my career, I spent a short time working as a journalist. That experience shaped how I think about leadership and business today. Good journalists ask thoughtful questions — and even more importantly, they listen. After all, we have two ears and one mouth for a reason. Curiosity encourages us to listen more deeply, understand more fully and, ultimately, make better decisions.    Curiosity has also pushed me outside of my comfort zone, to new countries, new cultures and new experiences. In moments when we don’t know anyone in the room, curiosity often determines whether we sit back or step forward and engage. More often than not, it’s those moments of curiosity that lead to growth.    At Alltech, curiosity is one of our core values. It’s what drives innovation — whether we’re exploring new science, embracing emerging technologies like AI or simply learning from one another. When we foster curiosity, we create an environment in which new ideas can take root and new opportunities can grow.    This week, I encourage you to stay curious. Ask one more question. Start one new conversation. Explore one new idea.    You never know where curiosity might lead.    Because curiosity doesn’t just expand what we know — it expands what’s possible. 

I am a naturally curious person. That shows up constantly in how I collaborate within, lead, and manage teams—I ask A LOT of questions. But I’ve learned that sometimes questions can make people uncomfortable. I've always wondered if it's because "curiosity killed the cat" was drilled into many kids in my generation as a way to shut them up or get them to comply without questioning authority. 😬 I've seen questions frequently misinterpreted as active criticism or, a lack of confidence in someone’s abilities. Other times, they’re seen as veiled subtext—like there’s a hidden meaning or agenda. I wish more people felt that questions are not threats. I believe deeply that they’re a way to make ideas stronger, to create deeper understanding of problems, and to get everyone rowing in the same direction. And when a team or culture views questions as inherently good, the outcomes are always better. How do we make curiosity feel safe, not threatening? Here’s what I’ve learned: -Detach Questions from Personal Performance: Questions should be about the idea. Period. If you’re probing a decision or digging into a plan, make it clear that you’re focused on the what, not the who. This keeps conversations productive and collaborative. - Be Clear About Why You’re Asking: If you’re a leader—or just someone who asks a lot of questions—share your intent. Say things like, “I’m just trying to understand this better” or “Can you help me connect the dots here?” This kind of framing goes a long way in diffusing any defensiveness. -Model and Create Space for Curiosity Openly: When you’re curious, be curious out loud. Ask questions in meetings. Admit when you don’t know something. Show your team that it’s not only okay to ask—it’s expected. Build a culture where there’s always room for people to say, “Wait, can you say more on that?' -Use Verbal Disclaimers: I have picked up the habit of saying things I used to assume was understood, out loud. Things like "this is not criticism" or "this question is to help me understand you perspective to be a better collaborator." This helps set up a shared goal between parties to work toward. -Celebrate Good Questions: When someone asks a question that shifts perspective or sparks a better solution, call it out. Let people know that curiosity is valued and rewarded. Other naturally curious folks—I'd love to hear your thoughts. Have you encountered this at work?

Curiosity often gets a bad rap (“It killed the cat,” right?) 🐱 Nonsense. But let me share a little secret: curiosity won't kill your career. It will help build it. In fact, it once saved a client millions of dollars. 💸 Here’s what happened: I was assigned to a new client in an industry I knew nothing about. It could’ve been overwhelming, but instead, I let my curiosity take the lead. I asked question after question, diving deep into their operations. Honestly, the client wasn’t thrilled at first— they even joked about my endless inquiries. But I didn’t let that stop me. By asking “stupid” questions (which, spoiler alert, aren’t actually stupid), We uncovered hidden inefficiencies that were quietly draining their resources. The result? We eliminated waste and saved them nearly ONE MILLION DOLLARS. 💡 Curiosity isn’t a weakness— it’s a superpower. As auditors, when we combine technical expertise with genuine curiosity, we become unstoppable forces for creating value. So here’s your reminder: • Don’t fear asking questions. • Don’t settle for surface-level answers. • And never stop challenging the status quo. Stay curious: C - Constantly seek knowledge U - Uncover new possibilities R - Remain open-minded I - Investigate with enthusiasm O - Observe everything U - Understand others’ viewpoints S - Satisfy your thirst for learning How has curiosity helped you uncover something amazing in your work?

Embrace Your Inner Curiosity Last week I was asked what I'd go back and tell a younger version of myself. The obvious answers came to mind: chill out, pace yourself, work-life balance... But then I remembered my youthful energy and how unlikely a young me would be to actually listen to that advice. I thought deeper and realized the best thing I could tell a younger me would be to simply ask "why?" more often. Embrace curiosity. Approach every situation with an open desire to learn. Throughout my career, this mindset has been invaluable: • It helped me understand how systems truly work • It revealed why some things don't function as expected • It allowed me to appreciate others' expertise and learn from them • It created opportunities for continuous growth daily One painful lesson stands out: I once spent three months on an extremely manual task because I assumed there must be a reason it wasn't automated. I never questioned it until one day, I finally asked "why aren't we automating this?" Turns out, no one had considered it before. That single curious question saved countless hours moving forward. To those early in their careers: question assumptions. Ask why. Your curiosity isn't just acceptable—it's your superpower. What would you tell your younger self about curiosity in the workplace? #Curiosity #CareerAdvice #LearningMindset #ProfessionalGrowth