The importance of curiosity

Curiosity. It's the single most important characteristic I look for when interviewing someone. Does that mean I don't care about experience, character, etc.? Of course I do, but I believe a high level of curiosity is what distinguishes the top performers from the rest of the team.

That's why I was intrigued when reading this article from MIT Sloan Management Review. Yes, it feels overly academic at times, but it hits on the critical points. I also love a couple of phrases used in it. First, "incurably curious." Yes! That's what we need more of. Second, "catalytic learning capability", which sounds like part of your car's exhaust system.

How incurably curious are you? How about your team? There are countless indicators to show where someone is on this scale and I think a few of them are (1) being a voracious reader, (2) always asking "why?", and (3) being a great listener who's willing to alter their stance on a topic as they learn more.

Don't underestimate the importance of that third point, btw. Some would interpret that as a flip-flopper but I think it shows you're open-minded, not set in your ways and willing to learn.