Curiosity as Culture
Because innovation starts with “what if?”
If you’ve ever watched a dog explore a new space, you’ve seen curiosity in motion.
Nose to the ground. Ears up. Tail wagging. Everything is interesting — every sound, scent, and shadow worth investigating.
Birdie, our firm’s namesake, doesn’t assume. She notices. She wonders. She asks. Without words, of course.
That kind of curiosity is exactly what a lot of workplaces are missing.
Curiosity: The Forgotten Leadership Skill
In corporate life, we’re often rewarded for knowing, not wondering. For having answers, not questions. For moving fast, not pausing to look around.
But speed, certainty, and ego — those are curiosity killers. They shut down creativity before it can start.
And yet, curiosity is what keeps companies alive. It’s the spark that turns “how it’s done” into “what could be.” It’s the secret ingredient behind innovation, empathy, and every aha-moment worth having.
The best leaders don’t have all the answers. They have better questions.
Finding the “What If” Mindset
When curiosity drives culture, people feel safe to explore, challenge, and imagine. Meetings turn into playgrounds for ideas instead of battlegrounds for opinions.
It’s not chaos — it’s creativity with a pulse.
Curiosity invites people to notice what others overlook.
To see patterns in the noise.
To find wonder in the ordinary.
When we lead with “what if?” we don’t just solve problems — we reveal possibilities.
Rituals of Wonder
You don’t need a creativity retreat to build curiosity. You need rituals.
Simple, repeatable moments that remind your team to stay awake to the world around them.
The Five Whys: Pick any goal or policy and ask “why?” five times. By the end, you’ve usually found what really matters. Digging down to how or why something is happening helps everyone involved understand the root of the problem.
The “Park Walk”: My team knew what I meant when I would say “Let’s do a park walk!”. We rarely looked at our operation. We picked up trash. We talked with Retail Associates and Rides Leaders. And we wondered how we could help. Step outside your workspace — literally or mentally — and look around with fresh eyes. What’s working? What’s overlooked? What’s beautiful that no one’s noticed?
These rituals train your brain to resist autopilot — and that’s where real creativity begins.
Leadership as Discovery
Curiosity-led leaders don’t need to be the smartest in the room. They need to be the most open.
They know that great ideas can come from anywhere: the intern, the client, or the barista at the coffee cart.
And they understand that curiosity isn’t just for innovation. It’s also the foundation of empathy. When you’re curious about someone’s perspective, you’re already halfway to understanding them.
The Culture of “Let’s See”
A curious culture sees possibility where others see process.
It replaces fear with fascination.
It makes work feel more like exploration and less like obligation.
And maybe, if we all led a little more like Birdie - with wonder, patience, and that irresistible “what’s next?” energy - our teams, our clients, and our ideas might just start wagging their tails again.
