Create a Culture of Curiosity

Boredom in the workplace is not something that you want your employees to experience. It can lead to a lack of productivity, lower job satisfaction, increased turnover, and it can even cause further problems if people act out of boredom. To avoid such a phenomenon, your organization should strive to create a culture of curiosity. In doing so, you are encouraging your employees to take control of their own development.

For example, in an organization that fosters a culture of curiosity, employees may not learn everything that they need to know for the job during training, but they will take it upon themselves to ask questions and learn from the subject matter experts. Their development does not end when the onboarding process is complete. They strive to continuously grow themselves and become the best version they can be. This type of workplace culture does not lend itself to boredom. Instead, it promotes self-automony, increases employee engagement and motivation, and inspires creativity and innovation.

As a leader, you can promote a culture of curiosity by encouraging your employees to experiment with their time. This requires a certain level of trust between the leader and the employee, but the opportunities that come from such an arrangement can be advantageous. Once an employee has completed their required workload for the day, you don’t want them to just sit around staring into the abyss. You want them to utilize their time in a productive manner, such as for personal development. Provide learning opportunities when possible, and encourage them to explore their contributions to the organization fully. 

Another way that you can encourage curiosity amongst your team is by being curious yourself. Ask those “What if…” questions, and let them explore the possibilities. Teach them to think for themselves and wonder about the various outcomes. Be clear in your instructions, but ensure that your employees are able to draw informed conclusions on their own as well. Ask them how they would approach something, and provide feedback if you think they need additional guidance for getting to the desired outcome.

There are a number of ways that you can start creating a culture of curiosity, but one easy step that you can start with is to ask your employees, “What is one thing you would like to accomplish that falls outside of your everyday responsibilities?” Then, when they have any additional time after they have completed their required work, allow them the freedom to work on that task. When you promote a culture of curiosity, you promote creativity. When creativity is nourished, the possibilities are endless.

-Meghan Slaughter