Curiosity: Superpower or Inconvenience?
Is curiosity the opposite of command and control? Or maybe it’s the inverse of indifference.
Whatever it is, curiosity thrives when fear and rigid norms take a backseat. It’s what drives us to ask “What if?” even when it feels inconvenient. Especially when it feels inconvenient.
Curiosity Isn’t Always Convenient
Let’s be real—curiosity can feel like a roadblock. It often shows up at the worst time, like when you’re ready to wrap up a project, and someone chimes in with, “Should we revisit the thesis?”
Cue collective groans.
Most of us have worked in environments where curiosity was quietly (or not-so-quietly) discouraged. Where asking questions wasn’t rewarded, but compliance with “the way we’ve always done things” was.
But here’s the truth: those old ways? They’re already being flipped upside down.
AI and other emerging technologies are redefining everything. And whether that feels like an opportunity or a threat to you depends on one thing: your willingness to get curious.
Why Curiosity Is the Key to Harnessing AI
The coming AI paradigm shifts are going to challenge us all. To adapt, to learn, and to rethink how we approach work. AI isn’t just a tool to make things faster; it’s a disruptor of how we think, decide, and create.
But you can’t harness AI’s power if you’re stuck in a mindset of control or paralyzed by fear. Curiosity is what lets you see possibilities instead of problems.
It’s the drive to explore, to ask “What can this do?” before you worry about “What does this mean for me?” And that’s a mindset shift organizations and individuals alike need to embrace—fast.
Building Curiosity Into the Fabric of Work
Creating a culture of curiosity isn’t just about slapping “innovative” into a mission statement. It’s about real, intentional action to make curiosity a daily practice. Here’s how to do it:
No Bad Ideas: Like brainstorming, create space where all ideas are welcomed without judgment. AI thrives in environments that foster experimentation.
Remove Barriers: Ask your team, “What keeps you from exploring or learning?” Then fix it—whether it’s a lack of time, resources, or psychological safety.
Dedicate Resources: Block off time for innovation or fund conference attendance. Investing in curiosity shows you’re serious about the long term.
Celebrate ‘Failures’: When experiments don’t work, don’t punish them. Share what was learned—it’s often more valuable than success.
Make Learning Social: AI moves fast. Encourage people to share what they’re discovering in real time, whether that’s a tool, insight, or idea.
Show the Messy Middle: Don’t wait for polished results. Share work in progress and invite questions to spark collective exploration.
Break Out of Job Silos: Let people explore beyond their core responsibilities. AI is reshaping roles anyway—why not get ahead of the curve?
Choose-Your-Own Adventure: Provide resources and direction but let individuals follow their curiosity. Everyone learns differently.
No Penalties for Curiosity: Don’t dock bonuses or performance reviews for time spent exploring instead of shipping. That’s short-term thinking.
Create a Stage for Ideas: Hold demo fairs, share insights at all-hands meetings, or start a team-wide blog. Make curiosity visible.
Share Knowledge Freely: Build intranet hubs or other repositories where discoveries can be stored and accessed by anyone.
Mix Perspectives: AI is interdisciplinary. Put people with different skills and backgrounds together and let the magic happen.
Curiosity Is the Only Path Forward
AI isn’t something you can control or ignore. It’s here, and it’s going to reshape industries, roles, and how we work at every level.
But the way through isn’t to hunker down or double down on old ways of doing things. It’s to lean into curiosity. To ask better questions. To see challenges as puzzles, not roadblocks.
The organizations that will thrive in this new era won’t just tolerate curiosity—they’ll build entire cultures around it. From leadership to new hires, curiosity has to be modeled and encouraged.
So, the next time AI throws a wrench in your plan or a team member asks a question that feels inconvenient, take a deep breath. That moment of curiosity could be the key to unlocking everything you didn’t know was possible.