By Kevin Anselmo
In thinking about your career aspirations, are you putting into practice the trait of curiosity?
Since launching Global Innovators Academy's Interview an Innovator program, it has been interesting to see so many students pick up on this word curiosity in writing an article based on an interview with an entrepreneur, leader or innovator.
Case in point: take a look at the article Always Be Keen to Learn in Order to Boost Your Future Career written by Southern New Hampshire University student Umutoni Zaninka. Erick Watson, Product Development Manager at Edge by Ascential, shared with Umutoni the following: “I think it is very important to always be curious and always ask questions of yourself and of others.”
Building on this, consider the points in this Fast Company article How (and why) to train your brain to be more curious at work. Gwen Moran notes research from INSEAD professor Spencer Harrison, who found that people are more likely to be curious when they have a close or supportive relationship with people curious about the same thing.
Gary Burnison, CEO of Korn Ferry, notes curiosity as one of the top skills required of leaders in this article for CNBC. He notes it is about "having the desire to achieve a deep understanding of things." There are various ways to achieve a deep understanding of a topic that is of interest to you. I think one of the best means to gaining understanding is by creating content. Case in point: I am "curious" about the importance of “curiosity in career development”. Writing this content for the newsletter is helping me to gain understanding and also piquing my interest in other related areas.
I encourage you to combine these two different perspectives as you think about how to grow in your career, regardless of what level you are currently at in your career journey or even if you are in school. These points might also be pertinent if you work with students or are responsible for the development of people in teams.
1. Surely you have found value and inspiration in batting around ideas with someone who doesn't necessarily have all the answers, but similar questions. Who is someone who you can connect with this week that has similar curiosities as you?
2. What are your curiosities related to your career aspirations? Consider creating content about it. Maybe the person you are exchanging ideas with can be the basis for your online content creation.
If you take action on these two points, I think you will be able to see the value of answering the initial question posed in this article. Good luck!
Kevin Anselmo is the founder of Global Innovators Academy and creator of the Interview an Innovator program. As part of this experience, students / young professionals interview different leaders, entrepreneurs and innovators and then write articles that are rigorously edited and published online. In the process, they are inspired about careers to explore, gain valuable communications and networking skills, and build a digital footprint that makes them more marketable. Contact Kevin to roll out this program at your high school, university or organization.
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