3 Reasons to Choose Curiosity Over Control

To be curious means to take a risk that you may encounter a distressing idea. But this type of behavior can be a prelude to innovation, as failure and error are no longer dirty words. Curiosity and creativity go hand in hand, as the curious hold a deep-rooted belief that things can be better.

1. When We Are Curious, We Make Fewer Mistakes

Once curiosity has been triggered, we make fewer decision-making errors. This result is explained by the fact that if we are curious, we are subsequently less likely to fall prey to confirmation bias.

When curious teams are facing a challenge, they engage by hearing each other out and welcoming intense criticism. This is in opposition to the more natural tendency to seek out information that supports our beliefs. Inviting partners to bring evidence suggesting we are wrong substantively lowers the likelihood that when we finally take action it will be motivated by errors in our decision-making.

2. Curiosity Lowers Defensiveness and Aggression

Curiosity is associated with less defensive reactions to stress and less aggressive reactions to provocation. We also perform better when we are curious. Curiosity has these positive effects because it leads us to come together and generate a wide range of alternatives.

There are reductions in group conflict when participating members are curious. Why is this the case? It relates to the feeling of connection and smallness associated with the fleeting experience of wonder. Conflicts are less heated because they are welcomed and encouraged, with more open and honest communication, and, consequently, these groups achieve better results.

3. The Incurious Spend Most of Their Time on the Sidelines

Great innovations come from curious folks who have time on their hands and objects with which to play. They play in order to satisfy their inquisitiveness, and eventually discover something interesting. Curiosity draws us to the novel and inexplicable.

Source; https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/managing-meaning/202203/3-reasons-choose-curiosity-over-control

Reflections on this article;

• Curiosity in decision-making leads to less errors
• Curiosity in conflicts leads to less heated ones
• Curiosity results in innovation

#Curiosity #Innovation #Mindset