How Curiosity Can Help Drive Your Printing Business

Do you consider yourself a curious person? Are some of your business values driven by curiosity? Many of the leaders that I’ve met have built their businesses by thinking about the what-ifs. They are always curious about that next big thing. Curiosity can help set you apart from the others, and who knows, you might learn something new along the way.

Reading and listening to things that stimulate or challenge your thinking can help expand your point of view. It helps to keep you out of the day to day rut, and can be a source of new ideas. In a business that is ever-changing, bringing new ideas to your customers and colleagues has never been more important. The more curious you are, the more that you’ll get out of these experiences.

Over time, it’s not uncommon to narrow the list of friends and colleagues that you are close to. Take a look at who you spend time with. Be careful that your need for security doesn’t lead to complacency. Being curious is a way to break out of your comfort zone and can protect you from encouraging an echo chamber — an environment where everyone always agrees with you.

We all learn new things differently. And in a world of constant change, there always seems to be some training going on. What’s the best way to teach your team new things? Being curious about how they learn and grasp new concepts, can help you to become a better teacher, and ultimately a better leader.

Innovation rarely happens by accident. Think about the last ‘new’ thing that you came up with, or that your team was able to deliver to your best customer. It may have been developed by asking great questions and coming up with a solution that your customer would not have been able to develop on their own. Curiosity can become the oxygen your business needs to help drive innovative ideas to the marketplace.

Curious people seem to ask good, thoughtful questions. They are interested in what the other person has to say. They are sincere listeners and connect with people during their conversation. They listen regardless if the other person supports, or is opposed to their own point of view. They are interested, and curious. If you are in a leadership role, listening to one of your team members, really listening, can make a world of difference to that person.

Making time to work on your business and encouraging curiosity should be a priority for all leaders. Please add any comments or questions below. Good luck!

Mike Philie can help validate what’s working and what may need to change in your business. Changing the trajectory of a business is difficult to do while simultaneously operating the core competencies. Mike provides strategy and insight to owners and CEOs in the Graphic Communications Industry by providing direct and realistic assessments, not being afraid to voice the unpopular opinion and helping leaders navigate change through a common sense and practical approach. Learn more at www.philiegroup.com, LinkedIn or email at mphilie@philiegroup.com.