Why the Future of Work Means that Curiosity is More Important than Ever Before
The innate desire to learn and gather information, rather than accept things as they seem, is something that, as children, we find effortless. However, as we grow, we're scolded by adults for asking too many questions, or we become fearful of appearing stupid and consequently, our curious nature is squashed.
When we reach the workplace, we continue to bury curiosity as we step onto a career path which has already been paved for us. We can clearly see the trail of promotions that take us from our twenties through to retirement and know that if we work hard enough, we'll end up in a leadership role. But what if that path suddenly no longer existed?
It’s no secret that the world looks very different from how it did a few years ago. With the constant introduction of new technologies, the way we run our daily lives is evolving and it’s commonplace to see machines taking on roles that once belonged to humans.
For example, we no longer need to interact with a person to buy our groceries, we can use self-checkout methods instead and with the emergence of self-driving cars, it’s possible that very soon, we won’t need bus or taxi drivers anymore. As the number of humans being replaced by machines starts to rise, The World Economic Forum predicts that by 2025, 85 million jobs may be displaced.
The reality is that this inevitable technology take-over is out of our control, but it does present an opportunity for us to welcome an old friend back into our lives. It's time to get curious again.
Why should we be more curious at work?
Re-embracing the curious nature which still exists within us, can be life changing. As children, it helped us understand this big, confusing world around us and in adulthood, its purpose really isn't much different. When we apply curiosity to our work, we'll see solutions that we didn't notice before and problem-solving becomes easier as we start to ask more questions. If we're regularly curious and purposefully open our minds, we can see beyond what's right in front of us and begin engaging with new perspectives.
Curiosity can also help us approach our jobs more mindfully. Whilst it's easy to power through your day on autopilot, beat yourself up when you make mistakes and act rashly in stressful situations, applying curiosity to your workday can give you freedom from the 'I'm terrible at my job' or 'let's just get this over with' mentality, which limits our opportunities for growth and enforces a negative mindset.
Practising this mindful curiosity can help us adapt to the changes that technology will inevitably inflict upon our jobs in the near future. Keeping an open mind towards these changes will prevent you from feeling blindsided by twists and turns in your career and you’ll be equipped to deal with them positively. This could be through recognising new career opportunities when they arrive, chances to upskill and increase your employability, or finding new hobbies and interests to monetise. Overall, always approaching your work life with an element of curiosity will help you be more flexible when uncertainty arises.
How can I be more curious?
There are several ways that you can ensure you’re cultivating the art of curiosity in your life - whether you are at work, or at home:
Try to say ‘no’ less
When you’re invited to do something outside your comfort zone, like attending a networking event, or giving a presentation, resist the urge to say ‘no’ simply because you’re uncomfortable. This might be a great opportunity to build confidence and grow your skillset.Ask questions
Always dig beneath the surface and ask who, what, when, where and why. This can be done when reflecting on your own thoughts and feelings, as well as situations that are presentedto you.Explore other cultures and ways of living
This doesn’t mean you need to jet-set around the world.Just reading a book or watching a documentary can give you insights into new ways of thinking and living from other cultures.Seek out more learning opportunities
Learn the language you’ve always wanted to speak; get the qualification you wish you’d got at school, or simply commit to listening to one educational podcast a week. Learning should be a life-long journey.Be more empathetic
Empathy enables you to authentically connect with others around. Try to understand other people’s perspectives and ideas as your way may not be the only way to look at things
No matter how comfortable we currently feel in our careers, the time to get curious is now. Applying curiosity to our current role is a win-win situation – if your job remains yours forever and isn’t given a shake-up by the rise of technology, you’ll have undergone excellent personal growth.
On the other hand, if your job is affected in the next few years, your curious nature will allow you to recognise new opportunities and embrace life’s challenges with excited interest.
