Curiosity (HBR Emotional Intelligence Series)

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Four Phrases That Build a Culture of Curiosity

By Scott Shigeoka

Curiosity is a powerful practice to infuse into a company’s culture. Research shows that managers are seen as more communal and friendly when they recognize their beliefs might be wrong.¹ Curiosity also reduces employee burnout and stress and is associated with higher levels of creativity and innovation.² When you build a culture of curiosity, people feel seen and heard—in essence, they feel they truly matter. This kind of positive organizational culture does wonders for employees’ well-being, hiring top talent, retention rates, and productivity and fulfillment at work.

However, managers often get one major thing wrong about curiosity. They tend to limit its definition to a force ...