The value and courage of curiosity

It's never enough to just know about something. I want to understand why. I always ask questions and try to really listen to the answers. I believe that by listening it's possible to get beneath the obvious, which then creates opportunities to open people’s minds to other possibilities. By connecting with people and building empathy I can experience what’s going on for them and truly appreciate their needs. It can be incredibly rewarding to work with people who bring a desire to keep on learning because they're not wrapped up in their own thinking.

In my experience self-starters filled with natural curiosity are the most resourceful and seek to create new experiences. I encourage asking “what if” and “why not”, and I encourage celebrating setbacks. I'll always back the person brave enough to try something and fail over the person who never tries anything at all because they will get up, dust themselves off, figure out what’s to be learned, then go again.

Each day brings opportunity to try something new, or do something familiar in a different way. I challenge myself and those I work with. I try to look around to see how what I do relies on and influences everyone else. This way I find how I can improve, what I can create, where I can grow. After all, small shifts can have a big impact.

I remind myself not to be afraid to shake things up because I want to create positive change. When I see it, I want to show there’s a more effective and fulfilling way to work that starts with understanding people—what they do, what they need, what will make them happy. My approach is one of continuous discovery and iteration. I ask, listen, see through the eyes of others, then look for the views they miss. By creating an objective vision as I go, based on the facts gathered, I try to question opinions thoughtfully and with purpose, evidence, consideration and humour. I can explain why because I understand why. And I can do so with credibility. I believe that’s when I become trusted.