Why Leaders Must Protect Childlike Curiosity

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There is something unique and special about watching a child become aware of the world around them.

During those early years, watching them experience and learn new things provides an energetic fascination that is unmatched.

We know this, and we revel in these first and new experiences we see in children. We take countless pictures of their faces as they experience failures and successes.

Yet, as they grow older, we do not nurture their childlike curiosity, and as a result, we can watch as the spark of excitement slowly fades and they, too, lose that fascination.

The result? They settle into the drudgery that is life in the modern industrial age.

You can disagree with me if you want — you cry, “Not Me!” — and yet deep down, you know that I am right. School, work, and society chase the childlike curiosity out of the vast majority of people by the time they reach adulthood.

Then we sit around and wonder what happened…
Why don’t people seek out new experiences that energize them?
Why aren’t more people displaying a growth mindset?

It is a leader’s accountability to foster that childlike curiosity to build an organization that is dynamic and responsive to challenges, both from within and from outside of the organization.

Do not confuse childlike curiosity with compliance.

I am sure at least several of you are thinking, “People have to follow the rules because there are regulations — people and customers can be injured or worse if the rules are not followed.”

You are correct.

However, I am not advocating “doing what you want, when you want.” I am simply saying that when we are curious, ask questions, and challenge the status quo, we learn and we grow.

As a leader, you have two choices when presented with questions and challenges:

I was reminded of this over the weekend while repairing a welded wire fence that my goat had pushed through.

It was a 110-degree heat index and while I was working, my 2-month-old mini-horse, Chief, came over to check things out.

He grabbed my pencil — as if offering to help.

You might think, “How wonderful that Dennis stopped, responded, and took the picture to share.”

If only that were true…

The first time he grabbed the pencil, I reacted.
I grabbed it back and shooed him away.

I was focused on my task — finishing the fence — and he was slowing me down.

What I didn’t consider in that moment was the relationship. If I wanted Chief, when grown, to be a well-adjusted horse who interacted well with humans, I needed to start by responding positively now.

So, fast-forward to the second time he grabbed the pencil. This time, I paused, took the picture, and instead of taking the pencil away, I held up a piece of wood, trying to get him to draw a line on it.

(I was not successful.)

But it wasn’t about success. It was about the relationship.

I spent 10 minutes interacting and playing with him before he trotted off, bored with me.

As I watched him run away, I reflected on what I had learned.

I wasn’t repairing a fence.
I was creating an environment for Chief to live and thrive safely, protected from predators.

My purpose was Chief, not the fence.

At Tiger Tamers, my purpose is to help you recapture your childlike curiosity — to stop simply going through the motions each day and instead nurture and shape your internal passion.

I help you find your purpose.

To do that, we must break through your fear barrier; only then can you manifest your dreams and aspirations.