"Be Curious, Not Judgmental" -Ted Lasso

Curiosity. It’s a small word with enormous power. It’s the spark that starts revolutions, the humble whisper that asks, “What if?” and the quiet drive that turns setbacks into discoveries. Curiosity isn’t just about asking questions; it’s about asking better questions. It’s what takes you from the shallow end of understanding to uncharted waters where breakthroughs live.

But let’s be honest—curiosity isn’t everyone’s default setting. For some, the natural reaction to challenges is to stick to what’s safe, familiar, and predictable. Maybe you’ve heard yourself or your team say, “We’ve always done it this way,” or “There’s nothing new here to explore.” That’s judgment. That’s shutting the door before you’ve even peeked through the keyhole. The trick? Replace that judgment with curiosity, even when it feels unnatural at first.

Let’s unpack what that looks like in practice. Because the truth is, curiosity can transform how you solve problems, innovate, and connect with others. You just have to give it the room—and permission—to thrive.

Curiosity Starts With the Right Questions

You know what kills curiosity? Certainty. When you assume you already know the answer, you stop looking for new ones. Instead of starting with “I know,” try leading with “I wonder.”

Imagine you’re facing a problem at work—maybe a project is stalled, or your team isn’t clicking. Instead of diagnosing the problem too quickly, ask:

• “What haven’t we tried yet?”
• “What would this look like if we started over from scratch?”
• “What’s one small change we could make that might shift the outcome?”

The beauty of these questions is that they open doors instead of closing them. They invite exploration and creativity, turning problems into puzzles. Think of curiosity like a compass—it might not tell you exactly where you’re going, but it’ll always point you in the direction of possibility.

Helpful tip: Write down 5 “what if” questions every week. They don’t have to be big. They just need to push you to think differently. For example: “What if we approached this like a game?” or “What if we took the opposite perspective for a day?”

Make Space for Curiosity—Literally

Here’s the thing: curiosity can’t thrive in a schedule packed to the brim. When your days are ruled by back-to-back meetings and never-ending to-do lists, curiosity gets crowded out.

The solution? Make space for it. Physically and mentally. Block off time on your calendar labeled “exploration,” “thinking time,” or, if you want to get fancy, “curiosity hour.” And protect that time like it’s sacred—because it is.

Use it to:

• Read something outside your field of expertise
• Watch a TED Talk or documentary about an unrelated topic
• Play around with a new idea, tool, or approach, even if it’s messy and imperfect

If you’re leading a team, encourage them to carve out curiosity time, too. Host brainstorming sessions where wild ideas are encouraged, not shut down. Make it clear that mistakes aren’t failures—they’re experiments. When people feel safe to explore, curiosity becomes contagious.

Reframe Challenges as Puzzles

Here’s a little mental trick: Instead of seeing challenges as roadblocks, treat them like puzzles. Puzzles are meant to be solved. They invite curiosity because they promise a sense of satisfaction when you crack them.

Let’s say you’re dealing with a particularly difficult client or a stubborn problem that refuses to budge. You could groan and grumble about how “impossible” it is—or you could lean in with curiosity. Ask yourself:

• “What makes this problem so tricky?”
• “What haven’t I considered yet?”
• “If this were a game, what would the next move be?”

Approaching challenges this way shifts your mindset. You’re no longer dreading the process—you’re engaging with it. It’s the difference between being frustrated and being fascinated. And the best part? The solutions you uncover often surprise you.

Tap Into a Beginner’s Mindset

The longer you’ve been in your field, the harder it becomes to see things with fresh eyes. You’re the expert, the person who’s been there, done that. But sometimes expertise can be a double-edged sword. It makes you blind to ideas hiding in plain sight.

Enter the beginner’s mindset. Pretend, just for a moment, that you know absolutely nothing about the problem at hand. If you were encountering it for the first time—like a kid or an outsider—what would you notice?

Try asking:

• “What’s obvious here that I might be overlooking?”
• “How would someone with zero experience tackle this?”
• “If I were explaining this to a friend, what questions would they ask?”

Beginner’s mindset is about letting go of assumptions and embracing curiosity as if everything is new. Sometimes, the most insightful solutions come from the simplest observations.

Curiosity in Action: Practical Tips to Flex the Muscle

Let’s boil this down into a few actionable habits. Remember, curiosity is like a muscle—the more you flex it, the stronger it gets.

1.  Ask Better Questions Daily- Replace “Why is this happening?” with “What can I learn from this?” Also, challenge your assumptions. “Is this really the best way, or just the most familiar?”

2.  Schedule Curiosity Time- Even 15 minutes a day to explore, read, or tinker can spark new ideas.

3.  Try Something New Weekly- Read an article, listen to a podcast, or talk to someone outside your field. Curiosity thrives on novelty.

4.  Encourage Curiosity in Others- Invite wild ideas. Celebrate experiments, even if they fail. Curiosity is contagious when it’s nurtured.

5.  Reframe Problems as Opportunities- Treat every challenge like a puzzle. “What’s the hidden opportunity here?”

Why Curiosity Matters More Than Ever

Here’s the bottom line: in a world that’s constantly evolving—where industries change overnight and yesterday’s skills are obsolete—curiosity is your greatest competitive advantage. It’s what keeps you adaptable, innovative, and always ahead of the curve.

Curiosity doesn’t guarantee you’ll always find the answers. But it does guarantee you’ll keep asking the right questions—and that’s where the magic happens.

So the next time you feel judgment bubbling up—whether it’s about an idea, a person, or a problem—pause. Ask yourself: “What if I got curious instead?”

You might just stumble onto something you never saw coming. And that’s the thing about curiosity—it rarely leads you where you expect, but it always leads you somewhere better.

Mitch Jackson | links