Choosing Curiosity at Work

A Powerful Tool for Connection

Curiosity has a way of opening doors—to new ideas, deeper connections, and better conversations. It’s easy to default to what’s known and familiar, especially in times of change, but staying curious creates opportunities to learn, adapt, and engage with others in meaningful ways. Whether navigating a new role, handling workplace challenges, or managing conflict, curiosity keeps things soft and open rather than rigid and closed. 

There is Value in Difference

Sitting on my desk, in front of my computer are my five personal values cards (creativity, humor, growth, connection, and curiosity). On any given day, I pick one card to put on top – the one I think will serve me the most given the day’s work. So far this year, I’ve chosen to put the curiosity card on top of the deck most days. While all five values guide my life and work, I’ve been noticing that curiosity is the value and skill (because it can be developed!) that I’ve been reaching for the most. Lately, I’ve seen just how essential curiosity is in three big areas: my new role, changes in the world of work, and understanding myself on a deeper level.

First, I’m new(er) to FlashPoint. I joined the team in May 2024 after over a decade in higher education. As a new employee, curiosity is an invaluable tool. It helps me stay soft (I don’t have to know everything yet! Or ever!), reminds me that I’m still learning, and invites me to connect with new teammates and clients with an open heart.  

Second, we’re collectively experiencing a lot of change and workplace challenges. Our CEO and founder, Krista Skidmore, talked about this in her blog recently. Organizations are navigating major shifts—some are calling employees back to the office, others are going fully remote, and many are undergoing massive restructuring. In moments like this, the temptation to know, to control, to become anti-curious about people and processes can be overwhelming. This is the exact time when we need curiosity the most.  

Third, I’m learning that curiosity is really at the heart of who I am. Changing careers helped me understand myself in new ways. I now see that curiosity has been in the driver’s seat for most of my life (Exhibit A: I stayed in school as long as possible!) There was always more to discover and more to understand. And while my curiosity about the world drove my research, it also been invaluable for my relationships.  

Curiosity and Everything DiSC®

When I started at FlashPoint, my curiosity helped me connect with new teammates and new clients, but I also had a toolset that accelerated both my curiosity and getting to know new people: Everything DiSC®. Understanding my own style (I have an I style) and my new co-worker’s DiSC styles allowed me have deeper conversations right away. I’ve found that asking good questions and staying curious (rather than judgmental) about the person or people sitting across from you can transform a dead-end conversation into one of real connection and understanding.  

One of the most important times to lean into curiosity is during conflict—a moment when it’s easy to shut down, make assumptions, or dig in. During times like this, when stress is heightened for folks, it becomes easier to move into a place of anti-curiosity. I wanted to leave you with a way to bring curiosity into those challenging moments and help to shift the conversation from tension to understanding.

Let’s look at how each DiSC style handles conflict and how curiosity might help: 

D (Dominance): People with a D style tend to be direct and solution focused.  

• How they handle conflict: They may be assertive, results-driven, and can come across as impatient or aggressive.
• How curiosity helps: Instead of reacting to their bluntness, ask “What’s your main priority here?” to understand their end goal.

i (Influence): People with an i Style tend to be expressive and relationship oriented.

• How they handle conflict: They may avoid direct confrontation but express emotions openly.
• How curiosity helps: Engage them by asking “How do you feel about this?” and ensure they feel heard before finding solutions.

S (Steadiness): People with an S style tend to be supportive and seek harmony in their relationships.

• How they handle conflict: They typically dislike confrontation and may withdraw or accommodate to keep the peace.
• How curiosity helps: Create a sense of stability by asking “What would make you feel comfortable sharing your perspective?”

• How they handle conflict: They typically like to focus on logic and facts and may appear critical or dismissive of emotions.
• How curiosity helps: Instead of debating facts, ask, “What details are most important to you?” to show respect for their perspective.

Choose Curiosity

Everything DiSC can help us stay open and curious about the people we interact with every day. A skill we all need to meet this moment. We’re all facing a lot of unknowns and challenges this year, regardless of job title or industry, and it’s easy to feel fearful, to harden, to ask fewer questions, be anti-curious. 

Curiosity opens the door to understanding, growth, and connection. It allows us to stay adaptable, keep learning, and build stronger relationships even when things feel tense or uncertain. I love this quotation from Mario Livio, an astrophysicist and author of Why: What Makes Us Curious. He says, “Curiosity is the best remedy for fear. What I mean by that is that often we are afraid of the unknown; of those things we know very little about. Becoming curious about them and making an effort to learn more usually acts to relieve that fear.” 

So, each and every day, regardless of what lies ahead, I encourage you to choose curiosity.

Unlock the power of curiosity and transform your team's communication with Everything DiSC®! Join us for our upcoming webinar Spark Curiosity at Work with Everything DiSC® on Friday, March 28th at 1:00 EST to discover how DiSC can support your team’s success.