Curiosity

Curiosity is a powerful force. It has ruled most of my life, guiding me through countless adventures across the world and driving me to learn different skills—from music to cybersecurity to leadership. Especially in a world where time is finite, who wouldn’t want to explore all there is? It’s the push to know, to grow, and to see the unseen. But curiosity isn’t just about personal discovery—it’s essential for leadership, especially in an age defined by disruption.

Pushing boundaries is essential for great leadership. In today’s fast-changing world, curiosity isn’t optional—it’s necessary. Agile methodologies thrive on experimentation and adaptation, and without curiosity, innovation is impossible. Think of Henry Ford. He failed time and time again but had the grit and curiosity to keep improving, always wondering, "What if?" If he hadn’t dared to try a different approach, we might live in a far less car-centered world.

Henry Ford’s relentless curiosity and innovation revolutionized industry.

Curiosity pushes leaders to question the status quo and explore new possibilities. It’s not just about what’s comfortable but about what’s possible.I feel that in the workplace, retrospectives are great enablers of curiosity. Just the other week, during a retro with the team, we discussed experimenting with deployment announcements. Someone suggested, 'What if we involve more customer support agents on the client side?' It sparked a conversation about how this might improve collaboration and better serve end clients. By approaching the situation with curiosity and asking 'What if?', we created space for experimentation and innovation, ultimately aiming for better results for everyone involved.

Moments like these show how curiosity thrives in an open and collaborative environment. But outside of structured settings, how can we cultivate it in a world full of distractions? It’s easy to lose ourselves in endless reel-watching or other passive habits. But like any skill, curiosity can be nurtured—it just takes effort. For me, the stoic idea of memento mori (remembering that we all must die) has been a powerful motivator. Knowing that death could come at any time pushes me to live fully—trying different things, meeting new people, and exploring new roles. By embracing this mindset, I make choices that align with curiosity and growth, knowing that on my deathbed, I’ll feel I truly lived.

Reflecting on life’s impermanence inspires us to live fully and embrace curiosity

The key isn’t to overthink the “how” but to start somewhere. Like Agile development, curiosity thrives when we begin, learn, and pivot along the way.

Trying new things is one of the simplest ways to cultivate curiosity. Experimentation is the heart of growth. It could be committing to a fad diet, picking up a new hobby, or choosing a scooter instead of a car for your commute. Hey, just today, I came across an exfoliant glove at my Airbnb. Although I’ve never used one before, I thought, 'Why not give it a try?' It turned out to be a fantastic addition that I’d love to incorporate into my cosmetic routine permanently.

Scuba diving has been one of the most fascinating discoveries of my life, sparked by a simple curiosity to explore the underwater world.

Experimentation helps us embrace failure as part of the process. By training your mind this way, you build an “experiment culture” that fosters adaptability and resilience.

At its core, curiosity is about questioning, exploring, and discovering. It’s about challenging the idea that “this is just the way things are” and finding better, more exciting ways to live and lead. Sure, you might travel to another country and find you hate it. But you might also discover that it reignites your passion for work or pulls you out of a slump. You’ll never know without trying.

Trying and failing is never truly a failure. But avoiding the chance to try? That’s a recipe for destruction.