One Skill Essential for All MBAs to Succeed

1. One Skill All MBAs Need to Succeed
CURIOSITY
SHALINI BAHL-MILNE, PH.D.
Presentation at:
Lee Business School - MBA Programs
University of Nevada, Las Vegas

2. How does it feel to be
curious in the body?
Is it pleasant, unpleasant,
or blah?
WHEN WASTHELASTTIME
YOUWERECURIOUS? Photo by Kat J on Unsplash

3. - In your classrooms?
- In relationships?
- When you’re problem solving?
- Are you able to stay open and
curious in the middle of a
difficult conversation?
HOWOFTENDOYOUFEEL
CURIOUSINYOUREVERYDAY
LIFE?
Photo by Zachary Kadolph on Unsplash

4. 95%PERCENTAGE OF DAILY DECISIONS MADE ON AUTOPILOT

5. - To get curious about curiosity
- Explore the benefits to you
- Understand roadblocks to
curiosity
- How to cultivate curiosity
- Try for yourself!
WHYWE’REHERETODAY

6. - What is curiosity
- What are the roadblocks to
curiosity
- Benefits at work
- How to cultivate curiosity
- Try for yourself!
WHYWE’REHERETODAY
LET’S GO!!

7. WHATDOYOUSSEE?

8. “It is commonly assumed that vision is
immediate. It seems direct, uncomplicated, and
instantaneous. But what students learn in a
visceral way in this assignment (look at a
painting for 3 hours) is that in any work of art
there are details and orders and relationships
that take time to perceive.”
—Jennifer L. Roberts, Professor in Art History

9. - Curiosity boosts mental and physical energy by 20%*
- Curiosity —> deeper engagement, superior performance, and more-meaningful goals*
- Driving force for innovation**
- Fewer decision making errors***
- Curiosity —> Creativity***
- Reduced group conflict***
CURIOSITYATWORK
*https://hbr.org/2018/09/the-five-dimensions-of-curiosity?ab=seriesnav-spotlight
**https://hbr.org/2016/10/146326
***https://hbr.org/2018/09/the-business-case-for-curiosity

10. “WERUNTHISCOMPANYON
QUESTIONS,NOTANSWERS.”
ERIC SCHMIDT, GOOGLE’S CEO FROM 2001 TO 2011

11. WHATISCURIOSITY
THEIMPULSETOSEEKOUTNEWIDEASANDEXPERIENCES—ISCRUCIALTO
INNOVATIONBECAUSEITMOVESPEOPLETOLOOKATTHEWORLDFROMADIFFERENT
PERSPECTIVEANDTOASKQUESTIONSRATHERTHANACCEPTTHESTATUSQUO.
https://hbr.org/2016/10/146326
FRANCESCO GINO, 2016 HBR

12. Need to know because of:
- I-Curiosity: Interest in learning
- D-Curiosity: Deprivation of
information due to uncertainty
TWOFLAVORSOF
CURIOSITY
JORDAN A LITMAN, PHD

13. - Genuine interest and care
- Openness to learning
- Ability to synthesize
information for new insights
- Questioning assumptions
- Patience and ability to stay
open in discomfort
WHATISMINDFUL
CURIOSITY?

14. WHEREAREYOUONTHECURIOSITYCONTINUUM?
Too Little Too Much
Disengaged
Shut Down
Bored
Need for Stimulation
Risky Behaviors
Restless
Mindful Curiosity
Genuine Interest
Connected
Awe

15. HOWTOCULTIVATECURIOSITY?

16. STARTSIMPLE,
GETCURIOUSABOUTYOURBREATH.

17. “IFICAN’TOBSERVETHEREALITYOFMYOWN
BREATHFORTENSECONDS,THENHOWCANI
HOPETOOBSERVETHEREALITYOFTHEGLOBAL
POLITICALORECONOMICSYSTEM?”
I COULDN’T HAVE WRITTEN ANY OF MY BOOKS
WITHOUT THE HELP OF THE FOCUS AND DISCIPLINE
AND CLARITY THAT THIS KIND OF MEDITATION GIVES.
YUVAL NOAH HARARI, HISTORIAN AND AUTHOR, SAPIENS: A BRIEF HISTORY OF HUMANKIND

18. -Refresh:
Refresh Your Mind and Body
-Disrupt:
Disrupt Your Defaults
- Act:
Take Skillful Action
RESETFOR CURIOSITY
Clarify intentions
Question assumptions
Expand possibilities
Meditate
Movement
Relax the default mind
Who
What
How
Where
When

19. - Busyness
- Impatience
- Distractions
- Lack interest/relevance
- Default Reactions
- Feel threatened
- Habit
- Convenience
WHATSTOPSUSFROM
BEINGCURIOUS

20. - Busyness
- Impatience
- Distractions
- Lack interest/relevance
- Default Reactions
- Feel threatened
- Habit
- Convenience
DAILYRESETFORCURIOSITY
REFRESH
DISRUPT
ACT
Train your mind for inner calm,
clarity, and empowered choice
with mindfulness.
Ask questions
Try new experiences
Step outside of comfort zone
Learn new things
Read on different topics
Do a routine task differently

21. “HAVEPATIENCEWITHEVERYTHING
UNRESOLVEDINYOURHEARTANDTRY
TOLOVETHEQUESTIONSTHEMSELVES”RAINER MARIA RILKE, LETTERS TO A YOUNG POET

22. DIFFERENT WAYS TO CONNECT WITH ME
➤ Email me: shalini@KnowYourMind.training
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➤ Join my online training: http://knowyourmind.training/online-programs/
➤ Find my 5-minute meditation series on Simple Habit for:
1. Women’s resilience
2. Women at Work: Lead With Confidence
3. Self-Awareness
4. Procrastination
or email me to get a direct ink to the above meditations.

23. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION© Shalini Bahl 2020