Have you ever watched a tiny tot toddling along the shore, picking up stones, peering under them with unabashed curiosity to see what lies beneath? That’s the Sage (Our Wise self) Explore mode in its purest form – all fascination, wonder, with no agenda other than to discover. Even in the thick of calamity, the Sage can activate this wide-eyed curiosity, this “tell me more!” state of being.
But how often do we make time for pure exploration at work? More often we’re busy shoring up our positions, selectively hearing only what props up our POV, thanks to those sneaky Saboteurs. We think we’re objectively taking it all in, but no! Our vision is narrowed by whichever Saboteur has us in its thrall.
The cost of this is immense! When we rush from problem to solution without properly exploring root causes, we miss critical insights. The Judge makes us too afraid of being wrong to genuinely explore. The Controller filters info to fit its agenda. Without fully exploring what IS first, we end up off track.
Imagine if we could recapture that beginner’s mindset of pure exploration. If every meeting began with 10 minutes for open, agenda-less discovery before launching into action items. If we let go of our need to be right in favor of getting curious about other perspectives.
The insights uncovered could be game-changing. But first, we must make time for the Explore mode and explore for the sake of discovery alone. The solutions and strategies can come later.
So be the toddler! The wide-eyed beachcomber, picking up the rocks just to see. Stand alone in Explore mode first, without trying to anticipate solutions or strategize your next chess move. You’ll be amazed at what you discover. Those juicy learnings under the rocks that can transform everything. Explore first, decide later. Who knows what treasures you’ll uncover?
Practical Steps to use the Explore mode at work:
- Schedule exploration time. Block off 10-15 minutes at the start of meetings or work sessions for open exploration and discovery before jumping into agenda items. Make it clear this is time for curiosity without judgment.
- Ask open-ended questions. When faced with a problem or decision, start by asking “What else could be going on here?” Resist the urge to jump to solutions. Explore causes, perspectives, and possibilities first.
- Play devil’s advocate. Take turns arguing other viewpoints, even if you disagree with them. This expands thinking and uncovers blind spots. Say “What if the opposite were true? How might we look at this differently?”
- Suspend judgment. Separate exploration from evaluation. Refrain from judging ideas or perspectives as “right/wrong” during exploration. Simply gather information without analysis first.
- Take notes. Capture insights and discoveries from exploration sessions. Revisit these later when ready to evaluate and make decisions based on expanded understanding.
Have an Amazing Monday (and everyday!)
Leanna Fredrich, Leadership, Career and Stress-Management Coach
PS: If you would like coaching and support please email me at Leanna@amazingmondays.com