If You Have a Problem, Come to Me with Curiosity, Not Solutions
When you choose curiosity, you lift yourself and your team ABOVE CENTER®—and that’s where the magic happens.
We’ve all heard the mantra: If you have a problem, come to me with a solution. But this mindset is limiting. Instead of jumping to quick fixes, what if we embraced problems as opportunities for creativity and growth?
At REVEL, we take a different approach: If you have a problem, come to me with curiosity, not solutions.
The Problem with Rushing to Solutions
When problems arise at work, they create a ripple effect—stress, tension, and reactivity drain momentum from you and your team. This cycle leads to burnout, poor decision-making, and a culture where people feel pressured to provide immediate answers rather than explore real possibilities.
In the REVEL world, we call this BELOW CENTER thinking—a reactive state where stress clouds judgment, leading to short-sighted decisions. But there’s a better way.
Why Curiosity is the Game-Changer
Rather than tackling problems the “usual” way, try something unexpected: approach them with curiosity.
Curiosity shifts our mindset from reactivity to discovery. Instead of asking, How can we fix this quickly? we ask, What can we learn from this?
This simple shift unlocks broader perspectives, encourages collaboration, and leads to more innovative and sustainable solutions.
Curiosity also breaks the victim loop of Why is this happening to me? Instead, it reframes challenges as opportunities for growth.
Curiosity, like problem-solving, is a skill. As Scott Shigeoka, curiosity expert and author of SEEK: How Curiosity Can Transform Your Life and Change the World, explains, “Most of us recognize why curiosity is important. Few of us know how to practice and unleash its full potential.”
Curiosity and ABOVE CENTER® Thinking
When leaders welcome curiosity, it becomes a catalyst for transformation—challenging assumptions, encouraging collaboration, and building trust. This is what we call ABOVE CENTER® thinking—approaching challenges with confidence, optimism, and a belief in the ability to adapt and grow.
Research supports this mindset shift. According to the analytics company SAS, U.S. managers strongly agree that curiosity drives business impact (57%) and higher performance (54%), see it as more important today than five years ago (47%), and consider it a valuable employee trait (67%).
What “Coming with Curiosity” Looks Like
Instead of rushing to solve problems, pause and ask questions that create space for new insights:
What’s the root cause of this issue?
What haven’t we considered yet?
What would success look like here?
Who on the team might have a perspective we’re missing?
What can we learn from this situation?
These questions aren’t just conversation starters—they reframe your mindset and inspire your team to approach challenges collaboratively.
Why Curiosity Matters in the REVEL World
At REVEL, ABOVE CENTER® thinking is about showing up as your best self, even in the face of challenges. Embracing curiosity aligns with the four pillars of the REVEL WAY:
Vivid Vision – Curiosity helps you focus on what’s possible rather than getting stuck in what’s wrong.
Aligned Action – Instead of reacting impulsively, you make intentional choices that reflect your core values and long-term goals.
Growth Mindset – Every problem becomes an opportunity to learn and grow, both individually and as a team.
Prioritize Joy – By reducing stress and reactivity, curiosity makes space for a more joyful and optimistic approach to problem-solving.
Breaking the Cycle of Stress and Reactivity
When you approach problems with curiosity instead of rushing to solutions, you create an environment where people feel heard, supported, and empowered to contribute. This builds trust, strengthens teams, and enhances long-term success.
Curiosity also helps leaders and teams avoid the trap of reactive BELOW CENTER thinking, replacing it with ABOVE CENTER® problem-solving that leads to sustainable growth.
A REVEL Takeaway
Next time you face a problem, resist the urge to bring only solutions. Instead, ask questions, explore possibilities, and embrace the opportunity to learn something new.
Curiosity doesn’t just lead to better solutions—it transforms teams, encourages innovation, and creates a culture of empowerment and collaboration.
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Marcy Stoudt is a seasoned sales leader dedicated to shaping the future of talent acquisition and executive coaching. As the founder of Revel Search and Revel Coach, Marcy collaborates with corporate clients to develop innovative strategies for attracting, advancing, and retaining top-tier talent.
During her 22 years at Allegis Group, Marcy was TEKsystems's first female Vice President. She led a team of 300 producers and delivered four consecutive years of revenue results at 18% CAGR, averaging $320 million annually. While at MarketSource, she established the Customer Experience Strategy for the Target Mobile outsourced sales team at 1,540 Target locations, fostering executive-level relationships with Target and Apple.
The Revel Coach™ Blog is provided for educational and informational purposes only and is not mental health, financial, business or legal advice. The information presented here is not intended to diagnose, treat, heal, cure or prevent any medical, mental or emotional condition. The information presented here is not a guarantee that you will obtain any results or earn any money using our content.