I want programmers, designers, tech support personnel, and everyone else in a company to know they can do any job asked of them. I will offer training and all the support tools required, but if someone isn't confident they can perform, then they should be doing something else. A test of confidence is a programmer asked to learn a new development tool. Employees must be positive of their own abilities. Curiosity I want and demand curious employees.
Innovation is the result of curiosity.
In my experience, many people feel more at ease being curious away from work. Give the right employees products to take home and keep as their own. Loan prototypes to employees. Then, listen to what they say. The true adventurers invite their children to play with the product.