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Remove assumptions -

Assumptions are one of the most ridiculous ways we inflict harm upon ourselves, plaguing ourselves with what we think someone meant or how we perceive something that happened. To change this, all we have to do instead of react is ask, and oftentimes people will explain a perspective completely different from our own.

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De-escalate situations -

Things can get out of hand far too quickly when emotions are high and tempers are short, but being curious first and accusatory second is a simple shift that will do wonders, and could even save people a lot of pain.

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The key to healthy argument -

Being curious is the foundation behind the principle that many relationship counselors swear by for healthy arguments, which is: seek to understand before seeking to be understood. If you’re more curious to know what the other person is saying and can put your ego aside, you’ll arrive at a mutual conclusion faster and more effectively, with each person feeling heard in the end.

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The ability to admit when you’re wrong -

Curiosity contains the tacit principle that the truth or the 'right' answer is always the priority, so if you are doing something wrong, curiosity makes it natural and easy to ask what the right way is, instead of getting defensive.

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Better conversations -

Whether it’s small talk or someone rattling on about themselves, many conversations, unfortunately, feature one person trying to get out of it. But the easiest fix to being a good, memorable, and desirable conversation partner is to simply ask questions about the other person—and if you’re not curious, fake it till you make it.

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Deeper connections -

If someone brings something up, don’t just nod along or respond with a blanket acknowledgment. Ask them how they feel about it, ask a follow-up question, get curious about them, and they’ll see that you’re actively listening and feel more willing to open up.

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A form of love -

There are few things sweeter than someone who genuinely wants to know you, how you think, what your opinions are, and even just how you’re feeling. Cultivating curiosity in your relationships is a way of cultivating more love.

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Less judgment -

Since curious people are motivated to understand different perspectives, they judge others much less and are consequently much less aggressive. Curiosity is elemental to empathy in that regard.

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But also becoming a better judge of character -

On the other hand, curiosity also hones a non-aggressive ability to judge people’s character better because you’ll be more inclined to find out their true motivations, triggers, and intentions.

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Solve problems -

When faced with a problem, instead of only dealing with the information given to you, the more curious way to do things would be to seek out other information that can help find solutions that were yet unseen. Curiosity makes your mind active instead of passive, and may help you find new ideas.

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Negotiation tactics -

If you’re negotiating a salary, for example, curiosity provides a non-confrontational avenue where both parties can empathize with one another. Even having the curiosity to ask “Can I negotiate this offer?” is a massive step that can earn you much more money. Ask “How did you calculate this number?” and “What is the outlook for raises?”

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Motivating teams and closing deals -

If you need to convince people to take action, either to work together or sign a deal, you have to understand what they need, what motivates them, and what turns them off. A curious mind will find these things out and use distinct cues and words instead of trying a blanket, standardized strategy.

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Remove room for error -

Far too often, people will pretend to know something out of fear of looking dumb. Being curious encourages people to admit that they don’t know something out of the desire to know—something so earnest that it can’t be embarrassing. When everyone practices this in a workplace, for example, there is no room for error left.

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Less stereotyping -

Harvard Business Review’s Francesca Gino wrote that when we opt for curiosity, we’re less likely to fall prey to confirmation bias and making broad judgments about groups of people, which ultimately combats harmful stereotypes in the workplace, for example, like women being bad leaders.

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Stay employable -

The world is constantly evolving and the skill set required for success is always changing. If you work in a field like tech especially, being curious will keep you optimizing your skills so that you’re ready to learn, adapt, and get hired.

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Cope with rejection -

Curiosity can even help temper the feeling of rejection and negative feedback. A study conducted in Japan surveyed 20-39 year-olds on their overall curiosity in correlation to social rejection and determined that staying curious can allow us to recover more quickly from the devastation of social rejection, reports Greater Good. It makes sense, since curious people will get to the root and understand the conditions of the rejection and criticism.

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Cure for boredom -

It’s impossible to be bored when you’re curious because you will always be led to new hobbies and diverse interests, trying to figure out how things work or what you might enjoy. It may even lead you to a new passion.

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Infinitely improved creativity -

Many people struggle with creativity, this seemingly intangible skill, even outside of anything particularly artistic. Curiosity is the seed from which new ideas can spurt and blossom; you have to be willing to see beyond the bounds of your current vision.

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No fear -

The more curious you are, the less fear you’ll have. So many people are terrified to try new things, and they consequently deprive themselves of many positive experiences, but being curious enough to try out your own skill or see if you like something can open up a whole new world for you. Even if someone seems intimidating by the way they dress, opt for curiosity and ask them where they got their outfit.

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Higher level of intelligence -

There have been several links found between curiosity and intelligence because it keeps your eyes open for new knowledge and thus supercharges your ability to learn. Studies show it also improves your memory and makes your mind stronger!

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Moral consciousness -

If it weren’t for curiosity, shoppers would never know the atrocities major corporations commit in sweatshops and on the environment or be able to make better, more informed choices. Our species can’t afford to live in ignorance, and asking the right questions is how we can hold corporations accountable for pollution and human rights abuses, as well as live our lives more sustainably.

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“The mother of invention” -

The curiosity of humankind is the reason why we are where we are today. It’s why Isaac Newton, Albert Einstein, and Stephen Hawking are revered, and it’s why we have new concepts, ideas, and even tiny inventions that change our ways of living.

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Challenge the status quo -

So much of what we do in our daily lives are behaviors, patterns, and norms that were passed onto us. We get stuck into a path or a way of being because that’s how it’s always been. Ask yourself why you do things the way you do—from the structure of your workday to your pre-bed routine—and curiosity will allow the space to take out what doesn’t serve you and try something new.

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Leave room for optimism -

Instead of looking at circumstances cynically, curiosity implicitly requires that we leave room for an optimistic outcome, which can improve well-being, reduce stress and anxiety, and have a positive effect on our entire lives.

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How to become more curious? -

As you’ve seen, asking specific, intentional questions is a vital part of beginning to cultivate more curiosity in your life. Keep your mind open, interested, and let one question lead you to the next.

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Expose yourself to new perspectives -

It’s hard to get curious when we live in an echo chamber of opinion and experience. Start reading books outside of your usual genre, talk to strangers, or listen to podcasts from people who can offer different perspectives.

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Embrace the discomfort -

You are going to hear people’s opinions and see ways of life that contradict or challenge your own, but embrace the discomfort and try to listen without judgment. Employees also often cite pushback to their curiosity and innovation because companies view new ideas as costly, risky, or dissent, but it’s important to find work that celebrates learning and evolution.

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When is curiosity bad? -

Of course, anything taken too far becomes unhealthy, and such is the case with curiosity. Humans have a deep-seated desire to resolve uncertainty, which can drive people to seek out miserable experiences like watching horrible scenes or exploring dangerous terrain—or pressing that proverbial red button—as studies published in Psychological Science have found.

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Know when you’re being baited -

The key is to know the difference between when you’re being baited to close a gap in knowledge versus when something is genuinely beneficial for you to find out. And how can you do that? If you’re asking, you’ve already nailed it!

Sources: (Harvard Business Review) (Greater Good) (BetterUp) (Psychological Science)

See also: Surprising character traits that indicate a high IQ

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