6 simple ways to become more digitally curious at work

Guest post by Andrew Grill, author of “Digitally Curious: Your Guide to Navigating the Future of AI and All Things Tech”

In today’s fast-paced technological landscape, instilling a sense of digital curiosity at work has never been more urgent. The rapid evolution of AI, blockchain, IoT, cloud computing, and other emerging technologies means that businesses must adapt quickly or risk falling behind more agile competitors in adopting these innovations.

Digital curiosity empowers employees to explore these technologies proactively, fostering an environment where innovation thrives, and a digitally curious workforce is better equipped to navigate these complexities responsibly.

My new book Digitally Curious offers hundreds of practical strategies to cultivate this mindset and skillset which can be easily integrated into daily routines. Here are six simple ways to do so in the workplace.

1. Embrace Continuous Learning

A commitment to lifelong learning is foundational for becoming digitally curious. It’s crucial to stay updated with the latest technological trends and advancements.

Set aside a few hours each week to explore new technologies and digital tools. This could involve reading technology sections of newspapers, subscribing to tech journals like Wired or MIT Technology Review, listening to business-themed technology podcasts or enrolling in short courses such as the Oxford Artificial Intelligence

Programme. By doing so, you can stay ahead of the curve and bring innovative ideas to your organisation.
Continuous learning is a cornerstone of digital curiosity because it allows you to adapt to the rapid pace of technological change.

The speed at which AI technologies have developed in the last 12 months required a complete rewrite of many sections of my book. This illustrates the necessity of keeping abreast of technological advancements to remain relevant and effective in the workplace while emerging technologies are evolving at a speed rarely seen before.

2. Experiment with New Tools

Hands-on experience is essential for understanding the potential impact of technology on business processes, and you should actively experiment with new digital tools and platforms. AI tools such as ChatGPT, Perplexity.ai, or Otter.ai can give you a sense of what is possible today. Using these tools allows you to discover new ways to enhance productivity and efficiency in your role.

You could save on average two or more hours per day just by using these tools, and who wouldn’t want a whole day back in their diary each week?

3. Foster a Culture of Curiosity

Creating an environment that encourages curiosity is vital for digital transformation. Organisations should promote a culture where employees feel comfortable asking questions and exploring new ideas without fear of failure. This can be achieved by organising hackathons, workshops, or brainstorming sessions where employees can collaborate and share their insights on digital trends. Such initiatives not only foster innovation but also empower employees to take ownership of their learning journey.

If your organisation doesn’t already provide access to tools such as Microsoft Copilot or ChatGPT, ask if you and your team can be the first to experiment with them, then feed back your experience to the rest of the organisation using your internal collaboration platform, while also encouraging the organisation to be more digitally curious.

4. Implement Digital Curiosity Challenges and Digital Show & Tell Sessions

Challenge yourself and your team to take on digital tasks, such as automating a workflow, using AI to enhance productivity, or improving cybersecurity practices. This hands-on approach pushes you to learn by doing and encourages others to stay digitally curious.

To further engage your teams, why not organise a monthly or quarterly “digital show-and-tell” where employees present a new tool, app, or tech discovery that’s helped them? This fosters a culture of curiosity and knowledge sharing.

You can gamify these activities to drive engagement and inject a sense of competition and fun into being digitally curious.

5. Integrate Digital Tools into Your Daily Workflow

To truly benefit from digital tools, it’s essential to integrate them into daily workflows. Many try new technologies but fail to incorporate them into their routine tasks.

A 2024 survey by The Reuters Institute and the University of Oxford found that frequent use of ChatGPT is rare, with just 1% using it daily in Japan, rising to 2% in France and the UK, and 7% in the USA. Many surveyed said they have used generative AI only once or twice, and are yet to use it regularly.

By identifying areas where digital tools can streamline processes or solve problems, you can enhance your productivity and contribute more effectively to organisational goals.

Consider AI tools as your “always-on intern” and try offloading some tasks your virtual intern could do to these platforms.

6. Embrace Your “Two Tribes” To Remain Curious and Solve Key Business Challenges

Every organisation has those that are “Born Digital” – their first phone was a smartphone. They live and breathe digital technologies and are comfortable explaining them to anyone in the organisation and actively experimenting with new tools.

You will also have a tribe of “Going Digital” – those senior leaders who are very comfortable with how the organisation functions, but their digital skills are … developing.

The two tribes can benefit from each other, and one way to bring them together is to run a “hackathon”. Once the reserve of software development teams to solve complex technical problems, hackathons can be used to solve broader business problems, with both the Born Digital and the Going Digital in the same room, sharing their very different perspectives to solve the same business problem.

Conclusion: The Urgent Need for Digital Curiosity

Ultimately, cultivating digital curiosity is not just about keeping up with technological trends; it’s about positioning your organisation for long-term success in an ever-evolving digital world.
These strategies and more are contained in Digitally Curious, which provides a comprehensive guide on how individuals can harness this way of thinking and doing to thrive in today’s tech-driven world.

Andrew Grill is an AI-Expert and Author of Digitally Curious: Your Guide to Navigating the Future of AI and All Things Tech (published by Wiley, 26th September 2024).