Curiosity is the Vaccine for Panic
Why? This is probably the oldest, simplest, yet most consequential question in all human culture. It’s the query that led to the creation of the Greek myths. It’s the inquiry that lies at the root of all modern scientific development. And of course, asking Why? —repeatedly and incessantly—is a sure sign your four-year-old has acquired skills now sufficient to demand your attention to the point of exasperation.
Yes, Why? is an important question. However, as we grow older, we tend to ask Why? less and less frequently. Our societal institutions encourage and reward deference to authority, while to regularly ask Why? is to risk being branded a rebel, a troublemaker, or a malcontent.
But when we stop asking Why? —when we cease being curious about the world, about others, and about ourselves, bad things can happen. Our intellectual world shrinks. Our emotional development ossifies. Professionally, our enthusiasm for work can wane and our progress stagnate. Perhaps most insidious of all, no longer asking Why? can make us anxious, depressed, and, in extreme cases, subject to panic.
Why? This is because, when we simply accept things the way they are without challenge, the world begins to look like a capricious, hostile, even dangerous place. Not bothering to try to make sense of things, including the way we feel—can also trigger a “fight or flight” reflex, manifesting as panic.
Fortunately, simple curiosity is a proven and powerful vaccine for the anxiety we may experience. Especially in these difficult times. When faced with uncertainty, just asking Why? can make us calmer and more resilient overall. Curiosity is also a key element in empathy. When we try to learn why another person feels or behaves in a certain way, we begin to establish a stronger emotional connection with that individual.
Numerous psychologists and researchers have written about this phenomenon of chasing curiosity for its positive effects. These include Beth Comstock, author of Imagine It Forward, Courage Creativity and the Power of Change, Dr. Judson Brewer, author of Unwinding Anxiety: New Science Shows How to Break the Cycles of Fear and Heal Your Mind, Oscar-winning producer Brian Grazer, author of A Curious Mind: The Secret to a Better Life, and Amy Eden Jollymore, author of The Kind Self-Healing Book: Raise Yourself Up with Curiosity and Compassion.
While each author takes a somewhat different approach to the topic, they all agree that a curious mind tends to be more flexible, more adaptive, and more apt to develop creative solutions. A curious mind also tends to be a happier mind. (By contrast, “incurious” minds tend to be dogmatic, intolerant, reactionary, and often depressed.)
What’s more, people with high emotional intelligence are often curious about the feelings of others. To this end, Greg Okhifun, Associate Editor of Corporate Workplace, states “EQ is the New IQ” at the office (both virtually or I.R.L.) and stresses the importance of this trait for business cultures. Okhifun and other thought leaders realize the interpersonal benefits of being curious. As such, they want to understand before they seek to be understood. Likewise, they expect others to feel and think differently than they do, and they lean into understanding the perspectives and feelings of others. They also do not assume they know how others feel. Instead, they keep leaning in to hear and honor the feelings of those around them.
In a related fashion, leaders of successful, innovative, and creative teams tend to be highly curious, as evidenced by this article by Franciso Gino in the Harvard Business Review. As Gino writes, “Most of the breakthrough discoveries and remarkable inventions throughout history, from flints for starting a fire to self-driving cars, have something in common: They are the result of curiosity.”
Accordingly, exemplary leaders tend to ask a lot of questions to facilitate the breakthrough work of their teams. And they listen well. They ask a lot of questions and stop talking so they can hear the responses. Even better, they understand listening is not about talking, nor is it about preparing the next thing we will say, but rather, it involved seeking to understand what the other person is truly saying. Accordingly, they make it safe to allow questions to be unanswered and safe to challenge them.
Want to lean into your own curiosity? Here are some tips:
Get comfortable with some level of maybe. Not everything can be known, and not everything that is “known” is true. Accept that there are always other possibilities.
Constantly test assumptions. Every action is really a hypothesis, a test. Even if something works, is the action repeatable…or was it just a fluke? Take nothing for granted.
Read topics and sources you’re unfamiliar with. Get outside your comfort zone as much as possible. Broaden your horizons.
Always look for patterns, even in seemingly unrelated fields or activities. Example: What do gardening and baseball have in common? Cooking and viral marketing? Yoga and accounting?
Ultimately, promoting curiosity as a key to a happy and productive workplace should be a cornerstone of your company culture. As described in this recent feature of me in Forbes, my team and I can help you create and maintain cultures breeding innovation and long-term success, especially through outside-of-the-box thinking. Curious to know more? Feel free to email me at laura@conoverconsulting.com.