Bring the Curiosity

Everyone doesn’t think like you. This may seem obvious, but it’s much easier to understand that in theory than in practice. You can assume that just because you’re delivering your content that everyone should understand it as you’ve intended them to. You can assume the group will automatically do what you ask them to just because you ask them. But they may not. There are so many filters (different ways of thinking, lived experiences, background and upbringing to name a few) that influence how people see the world and how they understand you (or don’t).

This applies on the flipside too. When perspectives come your way that you don’t understand or even agree with, how do you handle it as a facilitator? Sure, you may know to be impartial or remain neutral, but in the heat of the moment, is that what you do? Do you keep yourself from interjecting your own views or jumping to conclusions? Sometimes it’s not just about knowing what to do, but how to do it.

“Bring the Curiosity” looks at using curiosity as a tool to cultivate empathy so that you can hold spaces with multiple views—including your own.