The Power of Curiosity
One of the keys to having an impact, is to build a sense of curiosity. If we accept the idea that curiosity is the primary motivation for ongoing connection, that there is enormous impact to be gained from the development and enhancement of curiosity. It is the first of the emotions that we need to develop, a motivation to know more about me and the likelihood of me being successful in the role. We want to close the knowledge gap that says .. I’m not sure about this person and develop a desire for further connection and sense of credibility.
About Curiosity
We already know a bit about the neuroscience of curiosity. Have you ever desperately struggled to study a topic that just does not spark your curiosity, and then found you remember nothing when you try to recall it later? This makes total sense, as research demonstrates that being in a state of high curiosity enhances our memory for interesting information. The flip side of that, is that we don’t recall anything about things that are not of interest to us. This includes people.
Let’s start by understanding what curiosity is and the impact that it has on us. When we see how powerful a motivator it is, we start to realise how the building of curiosity in the mind of another human being, is a powerful decision making tool.
Our brains are really influenced and changed by curiosity. In this clip (below), we see the areas of the brain that are impacted by a gap in knowledge and why curiosity is can set up a desire to get something and a sense of achievement when we do. Curiosity and The Brain
The clip is really interesting, as it talks about how impactful curiosity is in brain activity and when curiosity if activated, we are more likely to desire an outcome or an answer. Curiosity puts the brain into a state prepared for learning.
It might seem obvious that if you are curious about something, you pay more attention to it, making it easier to remember later. However, the effects of curiosity on memory are more complex than this. One of our greatest attributes is we are curious about what other people are curious about. People can’t resist curiosity, particularly if there is a reason to be curious, that is, I need to learn something. Curiosity can open doors and create opportunities.
So, we can see how curiosity helps to close a knowledge gap. In a job search sense, that gap is you. When I close that gap about you, one way or another, I feel a sense of relief, but I particularly feel good if this is a positive experience. A positive feeling comes over you and you feel rewarded by the information and the discovery.
People want the knowledge gap closed, the one that says ….. Is this the right person for my company and for this role?
What are they curious about?
You – Who are you, where do you come from, Are you a good person, what do you like, what have you done, have you done it well? … and so on and so forth. The questions are endless. I need to get to know you on a number of different levels.
Your History – What have you done up until this point in time and has it been meaningful? How will it translate to the environment that I work in and will you be a safe bet from that perspective? What have you learned, who have you worked for and what sort of reputation have you developed?
Your Skills – What capability do you bring and will it fit the criteria that I’m seeking? How well are you credentialed from an education perspective and have you been trained in important areas? What other skills do you bring, that I or we currently don’t have?
Your Fit – Will people like them, will I like working with them and what impact will they have on culture? Will they make the place a better place or will I regret what I’m about to do?
Your Possible Impact – Do they have what it takes to solve the problem or enhance our prospects of success? Do they add to our skill set, fill a gap or take our capability to another level.
BUT … You need to bring curiosity as well. Curiosity about the people, the company, their profitability, reputation or future prospects. Maybe you need to know about the culture, the leadership or the team.
TargetCuriosity underpins all the other emotions that form part of the emotional momentum journey. We have to elicit curiosity because this impacts motivation and desire. A desire to get to know you more intimately. ActionUnlock your inner Sherlock – Play 20 questions – develop a list of things that you are curious about, as it relates to a new role.
Think about the things that you might like to research about an organisation, that are integral to your pitch to the business.
Curiosity energises us to seek more information. If we are bored by something or someone, there is no interest in learning more about them. Our brains light up when we want to know things because we anticipate a reward, in the form of an answer. Our wanting system needs to gather the information about you, required to close the gap and to make the decision an easy one. We need to provide that information in a way that builds curiosity, connection, credibility and ultimately a compulsion, to make you the answer to the question .. who should I hire?
Cool Stuff
The Power of curiosity – tips to make you healthier and happier –https://experiencelife.com/article/the-power-of-curiosity/
career storytelling – https://www.forbes.com/sites/carminegallo/2017/12/11/starbucks-cool-new-brew-storytelling-with-a-digital-twist/
communicating with impact – https://www.forbes.com/sites/ellevate/2018/07/10/communicating-with-impact-ten-elements-of-effective-messaging/
How to become a more curious person –https://qz.com/work/1590491/curiosity-is-an-essential-workplace-skill-now/
What’s next?
Curiosity is the first and one could argue, most important emotion that we need to stir, because it drives forward momentum. As long as we continue to stimulate curiosity, we stay in the game. The nudge factor we use to build curiosity is words, carefully, strategically, selected words that are going to build curiosity and connection. We call those priming words.