If you're curious you're less biased

Harvard Business Review has an interesting article in the Sept-Oct issue titled The Business Case for Curiosity. Among many things, the author notes "When our curiosity is triggered, we are less likely to fall prey to confirmation bias (looking for information that supports our beliefs rather than for evidence suggesting we are wrong) and to stereotyping people (making broad judgments, such as that women or minorities don’t make good leaders." This fits with my own experience - when I and others are curious, it opens up the atmosphere and we end up exploring instead of repeating embedded thoughts or habits. The article also notes that the emphasis on efficiency and performance outcomes in most businesses tends to diminish curiosity, reducing innovation. Among the author's five ways to stimulate curiosity is "Emphasize learning goals", explaining how a love of learning leads to a more creative, productive and satisfying life, as well as more robust organization outcomes. I've seen this in my own experience, and is part of why I joined Nomadic Learning, where I'm Senior (very senior :) Learning Advisor. Well I'll stop here - hopefully I've stimulated your curiosity. Let's all pause next time we decide to "forge straight ahead" and "accomplish the goal" and instead, start to wander... and to wonder... and see what happens...