Relentless curiosity seems to be completely innate behavior that is hardwired into how certain employees think, act and perform. Yet relentless curiosity is completely missing in how other employees behave in the workplace.
Why is that?
First, let’s define what I call “relentless curiosity.”
The term “curiosity” describes intense desire to learn something. Relentless curiosity takes an individual’s basic curiosity one step further. In fact, relentlessly curious people do not stop learning with the first explanation.
When individuals are relentlessly curious, they are not content with yesterday’s knowledge. From their perspective, the context of what they learn a day ago, changes today. Instead, they continuously pursue new information. Therefore, they continuously refine their understanding of “what they know” about ideas, techniques and processes.
As a result, relentlessly curious co-workers are never content that they have a complete answer to their questions. Not surprisingly, the question that motivates them is “Why?” And they continuously seek answers when working with other employees.
As a result, relentlessly curious people always pursue the real question that needs asking. Because the real question resides right behind the actual question that was asked.
Consequently, these professionals continuously pursue capturing the “true context behind what appears, on the surface, as the obvious context.” Therefore, the solutions they propose are distinctive, unique and game-changing.
There is no oasis of status quo behavior and mindset for relentlessly curious employees.
Not only do these individuals become professional experts and thought leaders. But also, these folks become top performers, as well. First, they take responsibility for creating and driving their own professional development. Then, they inject continuous motion and forward momentum into their career trajectory.
Each project or analysis they complete, client account they win, and customer they serve brings “something new” to teach to them. As a result, relentlessly curious individuals do not perform tasks simply to cross the next item off a “To-Do” list. Instead, they analyze what could happen, what should happen, what will happen and compare to what actually did happen.
Creating an entire workforce of proactively curious employees drives stellar customer retention.
Consequently, relentlessly curious individuals are tailor-made for the rigors of Industrial Internet of Things environments. Is your human capital strategy and HR department ready to handle them?
The relentless pace and cadence of technology advances in IoT environments is the ideal playground for relentlessly curious individuals. As a result, these employees are best-suited for skillset recalibration and new training – regardless of their age.
Do you know who your relentlessly curious employees are?
In addition, these employees make great champions for digital transformation of the workplace. Why? Because relentless curiosity drives them across the abyss of risk-aversion.
Also, these professionals simply are not stuck or set in their ways. Yes, they may be extremely experienced. However, their years on the job have not turned them into know-it-alls. Instead, they are committed to their own self-enlightenment. Furthermore, they become excellent teachers for more reluctant colleagues.
Define pockets of people with relentless curiosity. Become “unstuck” from the status quo.
When I consult with companies and coach individuals, I look for signs of relentless curiosity. These triggers reside within individuals as well as the workplace culture.
After all, this trait is critical to driving innovation through an organization. In addition, continuous innovation is the hallmark of the industrial Internet of Things environments.
Do you want to learn how to accomplish more with your current workforce? Then get curious. In fact, become relentlessly curious on growing, expanding and sustaining your business.
Isn’t it about time you moved forward from what’s holding you back? Then contact me!
Babette Ten Haken is a STEM-trained catalyst, corporate strategist, speaker, storyteller and facilitator. Her focus? How collaboration revolutionizes and humanizes the industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) value chain. The results? Increased customer loyalty, customer success and customer retention. Babette’s One Millimeter Mindset™ programs draw from her background as a scientist, sales professional, enterprise-level facilitator, Six Sigma Green Belt and Voice of the Customer practitioner. Babette’s playbook of IIoT team collaboration hacks, Do YOU Mean Business? is available on Amazon. Image source: Adobe Stock
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