Curiosity

Living the values

Design

Understanding the problem you’re solving from all angles and asking the right questions.
Having the desire to understand what makes other interfaces work so well (e.g. looking at an app and being curious about the hierarchy, padding etc).
Being curious about new technology that comes out and how it can be used to enhance the way we design experiences.
Exploring the many aspects of what goes into being a User Interface Designer (e.g. it’s not only about being able to design, it’s about considering your users and knowing principles like accessibility, motion etc).
Being curious about how processes can improve (e.g. handoff from Designers to Developers).
Being curious about the tools we use to create our designs.
Curiosity is about learning new things.
Curiosity is the desire to understand the other areas of your project (such as development) and how they impact the work you create.

Engineering

Ask questions about the work that is being developed. Understand the problem that you need to solve - do this by putting yourself in 1) the user’s shoes AND 2) in the client’s shoes.
Consider that there are multiple ways to achieve the same outcome, and have respect for this. This doesn’t mean that anything goes, but thinking this way will open you up to more than just your own familiar habits. This will lead to constant growth.
Believe the user first. This means that regardless of your own opinion whether something is right, wrong, working, not working, consider their reality to be true and work from there.
Non-developers don’t know all the technical terms, nor all the inner workings of your software. Be curious about understanding what they mean with the vocabulary they are using.
Trust but verify - have an impartial and objective way of confirming your belief of a system.
If you see something, say something - your “gut feeling” is often correct. Make a note, and raise an alarm where needed. See previous point.
Cross-pollination is important. Be open to learning new technology, shortcuts, tools, methodologies. This doesn’t mean you have to alter your belief system.
Ask more questions than you think you should. Almost no one expresses themselves completely the first time round, not even technical people.
Go out of your way to find information and detail, and put that back into the system.
You can learn something from everyone, find out what that is.
Keep a healthy list of growth material - blogs, tutorials, conference talks, pet projects. Experiment with what you read and build.

Projects

Asking questions about why a product, feature or app is being launched and what problem or challenge it is intended to solve.
Anticipating some of the kinds of questions your team members may ask about the product when it is being briefed to you, so you are able to relay that information back to them.
Understanding changes that happen in the environment or during delivery from your client, so you are able to have sympathy for challenges they face and be clear on what they need your help on.
Being curious about those you work with, internally and externally – developing a clear sense of empathy for them and interest in their challenges.
Cultivating a space in your team to encourage the curiosity of others, bring all their voices out.
Your curiosity about all areas of your product, project, app and team should make you the person others go to when they want to know about it.
Be neutral when asking questions and listening to responses – not immediately inserting your own opinions and emotions into the conversation will give someone the room to trust you and not feel judged.
Shine a light on anything you can sense but not see in the dark.
Continually re-assessing your own viewpoint on a situation when new information comes to light.
Being enthusiastically willing to go find the answers to a question you didn’t think to ask posed by someone else.

Sales & Marketing

Listening to a potential client’s idea.
Asking enough questions to get behind the thinking and origin of the idea.
Asking about similar market ideas and why this idea will be better or different. Example of this would be if a potential client wants you to build a web store, you could ask whether they have had a look at something like Shopify.
Getting to know the potential client on a professional personal level. Be human first. Try and keep the conversation organic by actively listening and genuinely being curious about what is being said.
See every interaction as a place where you can learn from someone that comes from a different walk of life, keep in mind it takes courage to want to solve a problem.
Shamelessly interacting with the potential client. This includes suggestions, follow-ups and maintaining the relationship.
When the potential client’s idea is vague and not well thought out, try to guide and educate them. By doing this, you add a small piece of tangible value that they won’t forget.
Conduct research regarding the potential clients field if you had a view of this before any first interactions.
Bring up the uncomfortable question/topic around budget. Do this out of curiosity and not just to make a sale, if you see that they have a small budget, do not waste their time and still try to add value via a referral or suggestion.
Remember everyone in the room’s name and greet them by their name. This comes back to being human first.
Be genuine and authentic to your own values and those of Glucode and engage every potential client with the same level of respect and optimism.

Support

In the Office Support Department, our main objective is to have happy and healthy people, who, in turn, can perform optimally. This is not only possible with the right processes in place, but also with the right motivation.
We exercise curiosity by continually practicing empathy and compassion in all our dealings – trying our very best to understand when solving our people problems.
We ask the right questions, and then drill down some more, especially when it comes to finding the best talent and overseeing internal disputes.
We improve lives by caring about our people, by connecting with them and helping them, always.
We try to find new and better ways of boosting our teams’ morale, with an array of employee benefits and by upskilling them to the very best of our ability.
People are our study and we like to explore and learn more about our people each and every day.
Ask yourself why a task or process is done (the purpose) and how you can help make it better.
Understanding the impact the task/process and outcome will have for the company.
Consider if there are more efficient ways of executing tasks.
Embrace technology and question whether the best possible technology is being utilised.
Make learning a requirement and take ownership of learning; intellectual curiosity.
By asking the necessary questions, one obtains a better understanding of tasks and processes and can identify any knowledge gaps.
Ask the tough questions with empathy and always keep a high standard of service in mind.
Ask after the well-being of your coworkers, their families, hobbies, etc without overstepping. Being curious about your coworkers enables you to reach out to them when it is necessary.
By living out curiosity in the workplace, we will have the power to push through uncertainty and be more prepared for what lies ahead.