lesson 33: Curiosity Will Make You a Better Leader (and 4 Ways to Get More Curious)

When it comes to leadership, curiosity is a superpower. It’s been shown to foster engagement and productivity, promote innovation, enhance understanding and collaboration, and encourages a culture of continuous learning and growth.

Curiosity feels good and is good for you. It stimulates the release of dopamine, which increases pleasure and motivation, as well as increases focus and retention. 
In his book, Seek: How Curiosity Can Transform Your LIfe and Change the World, Scott Shigeoka contends that curiosity is contagious. So, when you are curious, it also increases the likelihood that others will be curious. You facilitate a culture of curiosity.
Shigeoka also believes curiosity is like a muscle that can be strengthened. Here’s his four-step approach.

• Detach — Let go of your ABCs (assumptions, biases, certainty) Realizing you don’t know everything will shift your perspective.
  
• Intend — Prepare your mindset and setting Create space to build your curiosity muscle.
  
• Value — See the dignity of every person, including yourself Acknowledge that each person has a unique perspective and has something to contribute
  
• Embrace — Welcome the hard times in your life  Recognize that challenges are opportunities for growth.
  

These steps are not necessarily sequential, nor do they need to be done all at once. The key is to build time for reflection into your life so that you can become more curious. 
It’s like exercise, you’ll feel better AND you’ll be better.