The Curiosity Connection
In my work with global companies and people from over 40 nationalities, I see how leaders and teams who have low curiosity struggle to connect across cultures, wrestle with low motivation, and show low performance in diverse or multicultural settings. During our consultations, they feel discouraged and at a loss for what to do next. In contrast, clients who are curious about the cultural differences in their teams and relationships have a much easier time developing the skills they need to succeed in diverse environments.
Why is this? Why are some people curious about other people’s cultural backgrounds and others are not? Is it something inherent or something we can develop? If it can be developed, how? As one of my clients said, “If my motivation is low, how am I supposed to become more motivated?” It feels like a hopeless case.
My desire to help struggling clients launched me on a journey to better understand curiosity and how it impacts cross-cultural interactions. I have been paying attention to cultural curiosity—the times, places, and people who inquire about cultural differences—and the impact that this has on relationships and performance. This blog is a place where I will share what I’ve learned.
Cultural Curiosity is for people who want to connect and collaborate better in diverse settings, and help others in their organization do the same. We’ll explore what cultural curiosity looks like, how it helps us be and do better, and how to develop it.
Along the way, I will blend together:
Real examples from life and work
Insights from research
Stories of people who model curiosity
Practical tools you can start using
Cultural curiosity impacts both our personal lives and our effectiveness at work. It goes beyond trying interesting foods or learning how to say hello in five languages and delves into how to build authentic relationships and productive collaborations with people who are different. Curiosity makes that connection. It connects people to each other and diversity to success.
Follow Cultural Curiosity to learn how to use this skill to benefit yourself, your relationships, and your work.
Let’s see where curiosity leads us!