Curiosity in the Aftermath of an Election
Rebuilding bridges with questions and listening
Weeks after the election, we invite leaders to become explorers, to listen deeply and to ask questions. We invite leaders to wonder.
This may not be the time for everyone to do so. This is a hard moment for many. Our invitation is that when you feel ready to engage, strive to do so with curiosity. Perhaps these reframes can help in mindset and conversation.
Everyone is an individual. Everyone has value. Everyone has motivations. And we don’t know any of this until we ask and listen. No one is the party you disagree with. Research shows that curiosity creates connection, new ideas, increases satisfaction, motivation, innovation and high performance.1 We need all of this today, not just in organizations but in society.
If we continue to burn bridges and build walls, staying in the safety of our echo chamber, the more perfect union will become more distant than ever. We have spent time with and reached out to people on both sides of the divide since the election. There is much to learn—which happens most effectively through listening and questions.
There are undoubtedly hard times ahead. On the other side of the hard times, we see hopeful times. And the only way out is through.
Next week we’ll share thoughts and strategies on how you might engage with extended family over the Thanksgiving holiday.
With love,
Andrew and Ariel
(Francesca Gino, “The Business Case for Curiosity,” Harvard Business Review, September-October 2018.)