Curiosity Fed the Cat

There is an old expression, "curiosity killed the cat,” which might be interpreted as a caution against delving too deeply into what is better left alone, lest uncomfortable truths arise.  My own relationship with curiosity is a bit more nuanced. There are times, as a listener, I intentionally set aside my own curiosity so as to maintain a focus on others and trust that they have the relevant details to manage their own situations.  On the other hand, I have also been part of teams where curiosity is exactly what we’ve needed.

Curiosity feeds our creativity and investment in our work.  

Recently I had the opportunity to sit down with Dr. Leslie Maniotes, a leader in inquiry-based learning and co-author of Guided Inquiry Design for a Campfire Chat.  We talked about the essentialness of curiosity, how it’s a trait that we bring with us to new situations, and how culture and environment makes all the difference in whether that curiosity is nurtured or tamped down.  

Our conversation spurred my thinking on the reciprocal nature of inquiry and engagement.  As we cultivate curiosity, we shift from passive consumers of information to active explorers who ask meaningful questions.  We immerse ourselves in possibilities and are open to where conversations take us.  There is an element of discovery– yes, we work towards outcomes, and we also respond to what emerges.

We embrace the unanticipated synergy of collaboration which feeds our active engagement.

One team that I have worked with has a lot of data to support their effectiveness, including both feedback from those they support in their program as well as outside assessments of their work.  They are meeting their colleagues' needs. And, they are curious: what might the next best version of the program look like?  How might we increase the choice and voice our colleagues have in the type of support they receive?  As new employees arrive, how might their needs differ from those in the past?  How could our team better collaborate with other departments to weave a web of support?  This team's ability to inquire has led to innovation and a shared value for continuous improvement– they are “all in.”  

As I move forward, I will continue to examine the intentions behind my curiosity and check– is this something that will help the group move forward?  Or something I can set aside?  I will also trust when curiosity is the thing to feed, which will in turn feed others.