Curiosity and imagination are crucial skills for individuals and organizations, particularly in today’s fast-paced and complex business environment. In this article, I explore the importance of these skills and techniques for cultivating them in organizations. 

The power of curiosity and imagination 

Curiosity is the driving force behind imagination as well as innovation and invention. It fuels our desire to learn, explore, and discover new things, see the same in a different way, and even challenge the status quo. Imagination is the ability to envision new possibilities, explore different perspectives, and dream up new ideas. Without curiosity and imagination, we become complacent, resistant to change, and closed-minded.  

Imagination is particularly important in today’s fast-paced and complex business environment, where organizations are facing an increasing number of challenges and uncertainties. To remain competitive and relevant, organizations must be able to adapt and innovate quickly. Cultivating curiosity and imagination can lead to numerous benefits for individuals and organizations, such as identifying new opportunities, anticipating challenges, and developing innovative solutions to existing and emerging problems. 

To remain competitive and relevant, organizations must be able to adapt and innovate quickly.

Imagining is not fantasizing   

It’s important to distinguish between imagination and fantasy, which are often used interchangeably. Imagination refers to the ability to envision new possibilities, explore different perspectives, and dream up new ideas – grounded in reality – and often used to solve real-world problems. Fantasy, on the other hand, refers to the creation of unreal or imaginary worlds, often involving magic or supernatural elements. While fantasy can provide an escape from reality and inspire creativity, it is not practical for solving real-world problems. Therefore, it’s important to cultivate imagination rather than simply indulge in fantasy, at least in organizations. 

Techniques for cultivating curiosity and imagination 

There are many techniques for cultivating curiosity and creative thinking, including brainstorming sessions, design thinking, improvisation, and visual thinking.  

• Brainstorming is a technique that involves generating many ideas in a short amount of time.  
• Design thinking is a human-centered approach to problem-solving that involves empathy, experimentation, and iteration.  
• Improvisation is a technique that involves spontaneous and unscripted performance, often used in theater and comedy.  
• Visual thinking involves expressing ideas and concepts through visual imagery, such as diagrams, maps, and infographics.  

Other techniques encourage playfulness, flexibility, experimentation, risk-taking, and unconventional thinking. They can help individuals and teams break free from established patterns of thinking and generate new and innovative ideas. 

The method has been used by NASA, Google, and Unilever to stimulate innovation and creativity.  

LEGO® Serious Play® method

A technique that I am very familiar with is the LEGO® Serious Play® method, which I helped developed in the late 1990s in collaboration with LEGO®. This method uses facilitated and guided play to cultivate: 

• Stimulating imagination 
• Story generation and telling 
• Improvisation  
• Intuition 

It has been used by thousands of educators and consultants worldwide to help individuals and organizations develop creative thinking skills.  

 The LEGO® Serious Play® method involves building three-dimensional models using LEGO bricks to represent abstract concepts and ideas. The method is designed to encourage participants to think in new ways and “with their hands” and express themselves visually and by narratives. It is a highly engaging and interactive method that can be used to explore a wide range of topics, from strategy development to team building to help individuals express themselves. The method has been used by many private and public organizations all over the world, for example, NASA, Google, and Unilever to stimulate innovation and creativity.  

Create an open and safe environment  

Creating an open and safe environment is crucial for cultivating curiosity and imagination in organizations. When individuals feel free to explore, experiment, and even play with their ideas, they are more likely to develop innovative perspectives and solutions to challenges. An environment that promotes curiosity and imagination must encourage open communication, collaboration, and risk-taking. It should also foster a culture of psychological safety, where individuals feel comfortable expressing their ideas and taking risks without fear of ridicule or negative consequences.  

Variation fuels imagination 

Diversity and inclusion are critical to the success of organizations in a fast-paced and complex business environment. By embracing a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and views, organizations can leverage the power of curiosity and imagination to generate new and innovative ideas, leading to a more dynamic and innovative work environment. When organizations value diversity of people and experiences, they foster a variety of perspectives and ideas, enhancing creativity and problem-solving. This leads to improved adaptability and innovation, allowing organizations to remain competitive and relevant in the face of uncertainty and change. In short, a culture of diversity enables organizations to thrive and succeed in today’s business landscape. 

Experimentation and playfulness 

Experimentation and playfulness are two critical elements of cultivating curiosity and imagination. Experimentation involves trying new things, exploring new ideas, and taking risks. It requires a willingness to fail and learn from those failures. Playfulness involves a sense of lightness, spontaneity, and humor. It encourages individuals to approach their work with a sense of joy and enthusiasm, rather than pressure and stress. When individuals feel free to experiment and play, they are more likely to generate new and original ideas. They are also more likely to collaborate and build on each other’s ideas. This can lead to a more dynamic and innovative work environment.  

Benefits for people and organizations 

 Cultivating curiosity and innovation can lead to numerous benefits for individuals and organizations. For example, it can foster a culture of innovation, improve problem-solving skills, increase employee engagement and motivation, and enhance productivity and efficiency. When individuals feel free to explore and experiment with their ideas, even with their hands, they are more likely to develop innovative solutions to challenges. Curious employees are also more engaged in their work, more invested in the company’s success, and more likely to take risks and challenge established norms.  

Organizations that foster a culture of cultivating curiosity and imagination can also attract and retain top talent. In today’s job market, employees are looking for more than just a paycheck. They want to work for organizations that value their input and encourage them to grow and develop their skills. Leaders that place curiosity and imagination on the agenda are, in my experience, more likely to attract employees who share these values.  

Developing these skills can also lead to personal growth, fulfillment, and a deeper understanding of the world around us. Curious individuals are more likely to seek out new experiences, learn new things, and develop a broader perspective on life. Imaginative individuals are more likely to express themselves, solve problems, and find meaning in their work and life. This can lead to a more dynamic and innovative work environment that is better equipped to address the challenges of today’s fast-paced business landscape.  

Let’s experiment, play seriously, and perhaps even think outside the famous box.   

Embrace new and innovative possibilities

Cultivating curiosity and imagination is essential for personal and organizational growth and success. Educators, consultants, learning officers, human resources managers, and leaders have a responsibility to encourage and develop these skills in ourselves and those around us. There are numerous techniques and methods available, such as the LEGO® Serious Play® method, brainstorming, and design thinking. The key is to experiment and find the techniques that work best for our organizations and individuals. By doing so, we can create a culture of innovation and resilience that can lead to a brighter future for all of us. 

So, let’s embrace curiosity and imagination, and let them guide us toward new and innovative possibilities and more resilience. Let’s experiment, play seriously, and perhaps even think outside the famous box. Let’s cultivate curiosity and imagination in ourselves and our organizations. 

Catch Johan on The Curious Advantage podcast

The Curious Advantage Podcast series is brought to you by the authors of the book The Curious Advantage, Paul Ashcroft, Simon Brown & Garrick Jones and it is about how individuals and organizations use the power of curiosity to drive success in their lives and organizations, especially in the context of our new digital reality. It brings to life the latest understanding from neuroscience, anthropology, history, and behaviorism about curiosity and makes these useful for everyone.

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