Cultivating Curiosity: Ask, Learn, Evolve
Curiosity is often thought of as a personal trait, something that sparks interest in random facts, historical events, or even trivia games. But in reality, curiosity is a powerful tool in the workplace—it fuels learning, drives innovation, and helps us connect the dots between what we do and why we do it.
A recent moment made me reflect on this. My phone was borrowed for a quick search, and suddenly I heard, “Aha! I caught you!” Confused, I asked what they meant. They turned the screen to me and pointed at a search result I had looked up: “What year was the camera invented?” (1816—if you’re curious 😉). Amused, they said, “This is the reason why you know so much about the most random things. This is why you're so good at trivia!”
I laughed, but then explained my thought process—how I had been deeply invested in a story about Marie Antoinette, which led me to a fact check, then to a question, and finally to a late-night curiosity-driven search. One question led to another until I arrived at that moment of discovery.
This experience made me think: Why don’t we bring this same level of curiosity to our work?
Curiosity in the Workplace: More than Just Asking Questions
When we are curious about the things around us—including the organisation we work for—we gain a deeper understanding of our roles and how they fit into the bigger picture. Curiosity helps us stay current, make informed decisions, and contribute more effectively to our teams.
Think back to when you first joined the Cayman Islands Government (CIG). Do you remember being bombarded with acronyms? CIG, CO, DCO, GAB, CSD, FM… The list goes on. At first, it felt like learning a whole new language! But what did you do? You asked questions, you sought clarity, and over time, you figured it out. Why? Because it’shuman nature to be curious. It’s how we learn, adapt, and grow.
Now, imagine if we applied that same natural curiosity beyond just learning acronyms. What if we got curious about how our job impacts not just our department but our ministry and the broader government? What if we actively sought to understand the "why" behind policies, processes, and strategies? That curiosity is what allows us to evolve—not just as individuals but as an organisation.
Curiosity and the “Building Capability” Core Competency
Curiosity directly aligns with the Building Capability core competency that guides us in CIG:
Understanding Roles and Responsibilities – When we take the time to explore why we do what we do, we gain a clearer sense of purpose. Our work isn’t just about completingtasks—it’s about making a meaningful impact.
Engaging in Learning and Development – A curious mindset drives professional growth. Whether it’s through CSCOnline, LinkedIn Learning, mentorship, or simply asking a colleague about their expertise, curiosity leads to continuous improvement.
Staying Current and Sharing Knowledge – Just like my late-night curiosity-driven searches help me stay informed, curiosity at work helps us remain up to date with industry trends, policies, and best practices. Even better—when we share what we learn, we strengthen our teams.
Demonstrating Performance Improvements – Curiosity isn’t just about learning—it’sabout applying what we learn to work smarter, solve problems, and drive positive change.
So, How Can We Get More Curious at Work?
Ask “Why?” More Often – Challenge yourself to go beyond just “how” things are done and start asking why. Why does this policy exist? Why is this process structured this way? Understanding the reasoning helps us become better problem-solvers.
Explore Beyond Your Role – Take an interest in other departments. How does your work connect with theirs? The more we understand the organisation as a whole, the better we can contribute.
Engage in Continuous Learning – Take advantage of resources like CSCOnline, LinkedIn Learning, or internal workshops to expand your knowledge.
Be Open to Change and Innovation – Curiosity leads to fresh ideas. Instead of saying, “We’ve always done it this way,” ask, “Is there a better way?”
Encourage Curiosity in Others – Foster a culture where asking questions and exploring new ideas is welcomed, not discouraged.
The Cayman Islands Government aspires to be a world-class organisation, but we can’tget there by staying stagnant. We evolve when we get curious. We unlock doors to new knowledge, improved processes, and stronger collaboration. So, let’s challenge ourselves—just like we did when we first joined CIG—to keep learning, keep questioning, and keep growing.
What’s something new you can get curious about today?
