Curiosity
A strong desire to know or learn something. A willingness to explore and consider ideas before rejecting them.
A strong desire to know or learn something. A willingness to explore and consider ideas before rejecting them.
Under Skilled
Struggles to ask questions, even when confused.
Rarely shows interest in learning new things.
Avoids exploring unknown topics or areas.
Shows little initiative in acquiring new knowledge.
Prefers not to deviate from what is already known.
Seldom reflects on how things can be improved.
Rarely considers alternatives or innovative solutions.
Often misses details by not looking closely.
Hesitates to engage in discussions or debates.
Avoids seeking new experiences or opportunities.
Highly Skilled
Often asks questions to deepen understanding.
Eagerly learns new skills and seeks knowledge.
Explores unfamiliar topics with enthusiasm.
Actively seeks opportunities to gain new insights.
Welcomes challenges as a chance to learn.
Consistently reflects on experiences to improve.
Innovates by considering a variety of solutions.
Pays attention to details to fully understand.
Actively engages in discussions to explore ideas.
Seeks out new experiences to broaden horizons.
Over Skilled
Asks excessive questions, hindering task completion.
Obsessively learns new skills, neglecting necessary tasks.
Explores to the point of ignoring primary responsibilities.
Pursues new insights at the expense of current obligations.
Challenges everything, which can delay progress.
Overanalyzes, missing opportunities to move forward.
Constantly seeks alternatives, never settling on a solution.
Focuses too much on details, losing the big picture.
Dominates discussions, preventing others from contributing.
Chases new experiences, disregarding stability and consistency.
Resources to Review
Worksheet: Coaching Worksheet on Curiosity [Worksheet Link]
Article: “CQ is the New EQ” by Faith Addicott. [Article Link]
Article: “Certainty Is a Psychological Trap and It's Time to Escape” by Bruce Grierson. [Article Link]
Book: "Curious: The Desire to Know and Why Your Future Depends on It" by Ian Leslie – Explores the importance of curiosity in professional development. [Book Link]
Book: "The Book of Beautiful Questions: The Powerful Questions That Will Help You Decide, Create, Connect, and Lead" by Warren Berger [Book Link]
Book: "A Curious Mind: The Secret to a Bigger Life" by Brian Grazer – Grazer illustrates how curiosity has shaped his career and success. [Book Link]
Article: “The Business Case for Curiosity” by Francesca Gino [Article Link]
Article: “From Curious to Competent” by Claudio Fernández-Aráoz, Andrew Roscoe, and Kentaro Aramaki via Harvard Review [Article Link]
Article: “The Five Dimensions of Curiosity” by Todd B. Kashdan, David J. Disabato, Fallon R. Goodman, and Carl Naughton via Harvard Review [Article Link]
Article: "The Power of Curiosity" by Robert J Maurer, Ph.D. via Psychology Today [Article Link]
Article: “Curiosity is as Important as Intelligence” by Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic via Harvard Review [Article Link]
Video: “The Unexpected Benefit of Celebrating Failure” by Astro Teller via TED Talks [Video Link]
Video: “A Look at the Benefits of Being Deeply Curious” by The Today Show [Video Link]
Video: “The Importance of Curiosity” by Steve Blank [Video Link]