Today I was reminded of something simple.
Curiosity is more valuable than knowledge.
I was coaching a Japanese leader who is coming to India for the first time on a short assignment. Her English was simple, questions were thoughtful, and her energy was open.
I asked her: “What three words come to your mind when you think of India?”
She paused, then said… Friendly. Hot. Diverse.
Hot… she clarified she meant the present weather and the spicy food! And then, gently she smiled and said, “This will be the best trip of my life!”
Pause there.
She hasn’t even arrived. And yet, she has already created her experience.
What struck me wasn’t just her answer. It was how she was creating her experience with her language. Her childlike curiosity. The rest of our conversation flowed from here.
What we see, begins in the mind.
Getting curious is a bit like suddenly seeing the world in technicolour – you see things differently, you see things you’d never noticed, you have new ideas and learn new things.
Curiosity has led to many such discoveries. Einstein attributed much of his success to his passionate curiosity rather than his innate talents. Perhaps that is the real leadership edge. Because knowledge can close us. But curiosity… expands us.
How do you cultivate more curiosity in your day?
I am a courage catalyst, executive coach, facilitator, speaker and founder of Interact Consulting.