Curiosity Strategies: Overcoming Fear

Your Curiosity Strategies:

There are nine sub-factors under this main category of fear.  After taking the Curiosity Code Index, it is important to look at the things we can do to overcome how fear impacts us.

Competition: We might tell ourselves it would be boring if we were always the smartest one in the room. However, it is essential not to let that thought hold us back from learning as much as possible. You do not have to be competitive to have a solid knowledge base. It can be fun to be around others with substantial intellect to challenge us to get to the next level. Learn a little about everyone with whom you interact. What do they know that could be interesting to learn more about? It can intimidate some people into being around others who have a lot of knowledge. However, it is prevalent that people are happy to share that knowledge. Asking questions shows a genuine interest in others, and it can help develop a sense of empathy.

Past Experience: When we are young, many things can turn us sour about the idea of certain subjects. The sting could still be there if we had a negative experience or failed at something. It is essential to realize that each time we try to learn something, it is a different experience involving the teacher, the environment, the technology, and many other factors. Sometimes, traveling can encourage us to learn more about history or geography. Consider how your experiences might have shaped what you used to think was interesting and what could be interesting now. By picking up a book on a topic that used to be something we didn’t like, we might find renewed interest.

Pressure To Succeed: Sometimes, we get swamped and don’t feel we have enough time to do everything we want to do. You might find that if something is essential to people, they find little timeslots to fit in the things that interest them. We might feel a lot of pressure to get certain things done for work or family, and we let some of the things we like to do slip away a little. There can be a lot of pressure to succeed in life.

However, it is crucial to take the time to do the things that help to make us better-rounded. So many people find that if they spend a little more time exploring things that they don’t usually believe they have the time to do, they end up uncovering treasures and opening doors to new rooms for adventure and success.

Looking Incompetent: This is one of the most common issues for people. No one wants to look dumb. Think of all the meetings when you might have had a question, but you didn’t ask it for fear that you might be the only one with that question. There were likely others who had the same question and didn’t ask it. We need to help others learn that there is no such thing as a stupid question. All questions get us closer to the next stage of development. The only stupid question is the one not asked.

Rejection: Sometimes, other people do not embrace what we find interesting. This can make us feel uncomfortable if our interests differ because we don’t know if they consider our input valuable or reject our ideas. Not every thought leads to the next big thing; however, they certainly won’t if people have ideas and do not share them. Sometimes bringing up ideas that are not necessarily embraced can open a dialogue for additional ideas that can mushroom from the original one.

Unprepared: People often don’t share ideas for the same reason they don’t share questions: because they do not want to look like they haven’t prepared and others or are somehow incompetent. Younger generations have learned that all people can add value or a piece of the big puzzle. No one expects everyone to have all the answers. Sometimes just sharing a critical part can paint an overall picture. Most things would never get completed if everyone waited until they had 100% knowledge of every topic. Most often, pretty good and done is better than nothing delivered.

Appear Knowledgeable: It is nice to feel like we have all the answers. However, one of the most significant issues for leaders is they often think that people will discover they don’t know as much as others think they know. Indeed effective leaders admit that they cannot know everything, and they surround themselves with people who know the things they do not. The key is to volunteer the information you know and admit when you need more information from other people.

Expectations: Sometimes, people fear facing unexpected jobs or requirements. If people have done specific jobs in certain ways for many years, it can be especially difficult if expectations change. Sometimes having new leadership requires people to do things in different ways. It is essential to keep an open mind and let others share ideas that have worked for them. It can often spark a sense of creativity to combine the way things have always been done with the way things have always been done in other situations, which can lead to new ways of doing things.

Change 

Required: Many people resist change. However, the workplace is dynamic, and it is essential to be proactive on the need to embrace change. Some people avoid asking questions because it could lead to future changes on the cards. Keeping the status quo is the hope for some people who fear the alternative. However, if every day were the same, it would be more boring. If suggesting an idea means a job change or a procedure change, consider that as an opportunity to avoid boredom and create a more innovative workplace.