Hi ,
What if the most underrated catalyst for career growth wasn’t a skill, but a mindset?
Why Curiosity Might Be the Ultimate Career Advantage
When we talk about advancing in our careers, the usual suspects show up: ambition, drive, discipline, intelligence. But there’s one quality that often gets overlooked: curiosity. And not the surface-level kind, but a deeper, active, self-directed hunger to learn, explore, ask better questions, and see beyond the obvious.
Here’s what I’ve come to believe after decades of working with and studying thousands of people across industries and life stages: curiosity is one of the most powerful forces behind sustainable career growth, innovation, and personal fulfillment. And yet, many of us stop tending to it just when we need it most.
Sometimes, we even become “actively uncurious.”
Let’s talk about why that happens, and how to bring it back.
When Curiosity Leaves the Building
We start our careers full of questions. How does this work? Who can I learn from? What’s possible here? But somewhere along the way, especially as we gain experience and expertise, curiosity starts to feel… less urgent.
We get busy. Pressured to perform. Rewarded for knowing rather than wondering. Over time, asking questions can feel risky, even inefficient. It can also land as a perceived “confession.” Asking a real question means you don’t know something. That can be an uncomfortable thing to own, especially once you’re more established.
I was once speaking with a senior leader who confided they hadn’t asked a genuine question in a meeting in over a year. Not because they didn’t have any, but because they felt they were expected to always have answers. That’s not uncommon, especially in mid-to-late career.
It’s critically important to stay curious, no matter how high we rise.
1. Expertise Can Be a Double-Edged Sword
The more you know, the easier it is to assume you already have the best answer. That confidence can be helpful, but it can also block you from noticing new information, fresh perspectives, or better ways forward.
Curiosity keeps expertise flexible. It lets you say, “I know a lot, and I’m still open to discovering more.”
2. Curiosity Protects Against Stagnation and Burnout
When work feels repetitive or flat, curiosity can reinfuse it with meaning. A curious mindset invites you to look for what you haven’t yet seen, to explore the why behind the what, and the who behind the how. To zoom the lens out, even, and look at the bigger picture assumptions and processes, and ask if there’s a need or opportunity to reimagine or improve them.
For someone with a Sparketype like the Maven, curiosity is a primary fuel. But even for those where it’s secondary, or shows up in subtler ways, it still plays a vital role in keeping your inner fire lit.
3. Curiosity Makes You a Better Leader
Curious leaders ask better questions. They listen more deeply. They make space for possibilities that others may overlook. In fast-moving or uncertain environments, curiosity can be more powerful than certainty.
It’s what allows you to lead with humility and adaptability, two traits that, in a changing world, are far more valuable than a rigid expertise.
Reigniting Your Curiosity
So how do we actually practice curiosity in a way that fuels career growth?
Here are a few strategies to consider:
- Ask questions with no agenda. Challenge yourself to enter at least one meeting a week with no answers, only thoughtful, open-ended questions. You might be surprised what emerges.
- Follow your sparks. Notice when something captures your attention, even if it seems irrelevant to your role. That’s a breadcrumb. Follow it. Read the article. Reach out to the person. Chase the thread.
- Revisit your Sparketype. If you haven’t looked at your profile recently, take another peek. Ask: Where am I living into my Sparketype impulses, and where might curiosity help me reconnect with them?
- Build in reflection time. Curiosity needs space. Even 10 minutes at the end of the day to ask, “What did I learn today?” or “What surprised me?” can shift your mindset from reactive to generative.
- Embrace “productive wandering.” Especially for those with the Maven, Scientist, or Sage Sparketypes, intellectual wandering isn’t a distraction, it’s part of your creative process. Let yourself explore, even without immediate application.
Key Takeaways
- Curiosity is a high-leverage, underused tool for career growth.
- It keeps expertise fresh, fuels meaning, and strengthens leadership.
- Practicing curiosity isn’t about having more time, it’s about making more room to question, explore, and discover.
- Your Sparketype can guide the most natural way for curiosity to come alive in your work.
- Small shifts: asking better questions, chasing sparks, and reflecting regularly can reignite curiosity and unlock new possibilities.
The more we stay curious, the wider open the doors stay to growth.
With gratitude,
Jonathan & The Spark Team
The Surprising Power of a Few Simple Words
What if the answers to life’s biggest questions were hidden in a few simple phrases? In this inspiring episode, Gretchen Rubin shares her “secrets of adulthood” — short, insightful truths that cut through the noise and help you navigate life with more clarity, purpose, and ease. From redefining happiness to mastering language and decision-making, this conversation is full of practical wisdom you’ll want to revisit again and again.
Is there something on your mind you’d like us to explore? Hit reply and let us know.
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