Using Curiosity Archetypes to Bring Applied Curiosity to Work

Why are we curious? What are the benefits of curiosity? Why are some of us more curious than others? What is curiosity?

Over the last 50 years, curiosity research focused primarily on these exact questions.

 

From Why to How…Bringing Applied Curiosity to Work

The creation of Applied Curiosity Lab involved compiling and synthesizing this research in order to move from “why are humans curious” to “how are humans curious?” This led to the framework and measurement for how humans apply curiosity, and the distinction between free-range and Applied Curiosity. It turns out that we are all curious in different ways, one of four distinct ways reflected in the four Curiosity Archetypes.

My sponsorship* with Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, and participation in their #alwayscurious initiative allowed me to deep-dive into their results from the most comprehensive, international study of curiosity in the workplace. This State of Curiosity Report provided critical evidence for the value of understanding Curiosity Archetypes and how to use them at work.

The State of Curiosity Report revealed…

Four Curiosity Characteristics

  • Joyous Exploration
    • Gaining pleasure from recognizing and seeking new knowledge and information
  • Deprivation Sensitivity
    • Recognizing a gap in knowledge and pondering complex ideas to reduce the gap and solve problems
  • Openness to People’s Ideas
    • Valuing diverse perspectives and seeking out different approaches
  • Stress Tolerance
    • Willingness to embrace anxiety and discomfort from the new, unfamiliar and uncertain.

Four Curiosity Archetypes

Aristotle – Thinker

  • Aristotle’s quote: “It’s the mark of an educated mind to entertain a thought without accepting it.” 
  • Aristotles exhibit Joyful Exploration by pondering different topics, surfing the internet for learning a little about a lot, thinking of new ways of thinking, and coming up with insights.

Amelia Earhart – Adventurer

  • Amelia Earhart’s quote: “Adventure is worthwhile in itself.”
  • Amelias exhibit Openness to People’s Ideas by engaging with different types of people, seeking uncommon experiences, experiencing cultures, trying exotic foods, and maybe thrill-seeking.

Albert Einstein – Solver

  • Albert Einstein quote: “We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.”
  • Einsteins exhibit Deprivation Sensitivity by identifying problems and coming up with solutions that may not be as obvious to others.

Leonardo da Vinci – Observer

  • Leonardo da Vinci’s quote: “All our knowledge has its origins in our perceptions.” 
  • Leos exhibit Joyful Exploration by tapping into many areas of knowledge, and exploring, observing and noticing things that others miss.

Which Curiosity Archetype are you?

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According to the State of Curiosity Report, curiosity can be hindered by a lack of Stress Tolerance….even with high levels of Joyous Exploration, Deprivation Sensitivity, and/or Openness to People’s Ideas.

The importance of Stress Tolerance cannot be ignored. The ability to innovate and future-proof depends on it. The State of Curiosity study found that US employees exhibited lower levels of Stress Tolerance than the other three Curiosity Characteristics…and lower levels than China and Germany. If you want to maximize the power of Applied Curiosity at work, Stress Tolerance must be addressed. Applied Curiosity Workshops address this by focusing on how to grow and maintain a strong “curiosity muscle” and how to create a culture of curiosity that embraces the anxiety and discomfort that comes from exploring the new, familiar, and uncertain.

How can you use Curiosity Archetypes & Characteristics to…

Increase Stress Tolerance and lead a culture of curiosity

  • Challenge Aristotles to capture new ideas…even when the ideas are generated by the non-leadership team.
  • Embolden Amelias to encourage others to diversify routines…even if this means crossing hierarchical or technical silos.
  • Provoke Einsteins to question assumptions…even when the assumptions support major initiatives.
  • Spur Leonardos to identify what you may be missing…even when you think you know all there is to know.

What else can you do?

  1. Go to Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany’s State of Curiosity Interactive Report.
  2. Contact Applied Curiosity Lab to find out about our Introduction to Applied Curiosity Workshop and learn how to use Curiosity Archetypes to sharpen your Applied Curiosity tool, add to your Applied Curiosity tool belt, and round out your team’s Applied Curiosity toolbox.

*Sponsored by Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany.

1 Comment

  1. Maria Clemencia González Silveyra on February 24, 2021 at 6:33 am

    Absolutely mesmerized by the subject. Ive been investigating about curiosity and got to the Merck Study by other roads. Nice to see everything blended here! Thank you!