A few years ago, I was part of an interview panel for a job opening on our team. At the end of the interview, we asked if the candidate had any questions for us. Usually, it’s specific to the work itself, like how many meetings do you attend, how often do you have to go into the office or do a site visit, etc. During this particular interview, the interviewee asked a really intriguing question: What is one quality you possess that is a benefit to this job?

 My answer was curiosity.

Sure, I could have gone with more obvious choices like confidence or adaptability, but I am very curious by nature, and in that moment, I just knew that it was integral to my success in that position.

The Oxford Dictionary defines curiosity as a strong desire to know or learn something.

I had a strong desire to know all about the medical products I was reviewing, and the ADHD hyperfocus to do the needed deep dives to understand it from every conceivable angle. I found it all fascinating. Even the peer reviewed literature and scientific studies.

Curiosity was the driving force behind my need to solve problems. Problems were puzzles that could be cracked if you had access to the right data and knew where to look. I think I got dopamine hits every time I had an “aha!” moment and figured out the answer. I may have spent an hour or two out of my day with my tenacious data sleuthing, but those few hours saved many headaches and usually money, so I believe it was still value added.

Beyond products and data, curiosity connected me with coworkers. When I talk to people, whether serious subject matters or just small talk, I am genuinely interested in what they have to say. It brings me great joy to hear life stories and to see the spark in someone’s eyes as they talk about their passions. This helped my work in many ways. It helped me understand where people were coming from. It helped me give people the benefit of the doubt, and vice versa. People also tend to be better team players when they know you authentically care.

Now that I think about it, everything I have written so far has helped in ALL areas of my life, not just work.

Curiosity has been the antidote to fearing the unknown. Open curiosity with no judgement or preconceived ideas has allowed me to understand people and cultures that were formerly “other”. It’s difficult to remain “other” and divisive when you listen to understand and learn. I know we listen to argue, but I think we also listen to fix. We need to listen to understand first, before asking if there’s anything we can do to help.

Being curious has been instrumental in my physical and emotional healing. Asking myself questions when I feel pain and discomfort allows me to find root causes, which helps me understand myself better and gives me opportunities to grow.

A strong desire to learn about my genetic conditions and comorbid chronic health conditions has helped me take better care of myself. Knowing my limitations and where or when I need support improves the quality and longevity of my life.

But mostly, I love my curiosity because once it loosens its hold on me, I’m left feeling a beautiful sense of wonder.

Be curious.

Ask questions.

There’s a whole world out there waiting to show you its treasures.

And next time you’re in an interview and they ask about your greatest quality, tell them it’s your insatiable curiosity.