The journey map for this story
Why “The New ABC” - what problem(s) do I see?
Why does it matter – what are the consequences?
Why do I care, and now we’re at it, Who am I?
How can these problems be addressed?
What can you expect from me?
Who are you?
… and how can you contact me?
Why – The starting point
We are all born curious, with age 5 as the Summit of Asking Questions
After 12-20 years of education we’re trained in giving answers and have been
actively deskilled in the Art of Asking Questions
Then we start careers and are expected to be creative and innovative
… which is to say, “professionally curious”
So we need to be reskilled to relearn something we knew already
That’s a senseless waste of time and effort
Why – Does this matter?
Yes, it does
And increasingly so
21st century skills, i.e., creativity, critical thinking, problem solving, etc … to complement
the traditional focus on knowlledge (re)production
Most recent research (HBR, 09/18): Curiosity boosts not only innovative
behaviour but also collaboration, quality of decisions and …. Overall
Performance
But most organisations are scared or do not Walk the Talk
Why – What’s it to me?
Having worked in many different organisational environments…
All focused on changing the world for the better…
… it has become clear to me that Curiosity is a big gap, everywhere
The world is obsessed with taking action & being in control
Which leaves too little time to reflect about Why (not) and What else
Result 1: perfectly nice answers to bad or irrelevant questions
Result 2: actions being taken that are wildly underinformed and underexplored
That bugs me. A lot.
So who am I?
Wouter Kersten
Chief Curiosity of The New ABC
At your service
20 years of experience in a wide
diversity of environments
With strong academic background
Including a part-time, fast-track PhD
How – So what is the alternative?
Convey my vision that (professional) curiosity is at the core of all progress
I repeat ALL progress, in human history
It’s not just a cuddly topic
It’s serious. And if you ignore that, you have a serious problem
So I want to encourage you to put curiosity (back) in your DNA
Encourage an attitude of 1. Wondering, 2. Enquiring, 3. Meaning
In that order
I’m not alone, and I’m not the first
“Logic can take you from A to B,
Imagination can take you anywhere”
(Einstein, A.)
How – More details?
Join the journey that lets you experience how
… being more Curious can help you deal with…
… exploring new avenues instead of ploughing on
… start to embrace complexity (i.e., life), and uncertainty
… so you can work with these phenomena
But you need to have/ get/ give the room and time for this
What – Can I offer you something?
How to Always Be Curious
1. Get Inspired
Sparring: develop better questions to arrive at better amswers
2. Get started
Create new directions rising up from ‘Noise’
Introduction Training in how to become more curious
3. Get better
How to Cherish complexity – in a box
Advanced training in applying curiosity
Special
Curiosity in Education – it starts with the teachers and decision makers
“Thinking outside the box”
is NOT the summit of creative thinking.
It only shows you’re still thinking in terms of boxes…
For whom – Who are you?
1. Any organisation, department or team, that
feels stuck, overwhelmed, confused,
Is done with tools that promise simple solutions
senses that curiosity is important, but don’t know how to start
2. Or a school (board) that
wants to allow more space for curiosity to flourish in its students (and teachers)
but is doubting how it can do so “within the system”
Therefore you are willing to try out new things and by now have gotten curious
How to reach me and learn more
www.thenewabc.nl
Wouter.thenewabc@gmail.com
+31 6 24635593
The Hague, The Netherlands
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