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Ah, innovation! It's that spark in the eyes of entrepreneurs, the burning desire in their bellies, the wind that helps their startup take off. But here's the kicker: real innovation isn't just about looking to the future; it's also about looking around. Imagine a world where ideas are like bees, flying from one field to another, exchanging pollen as they go, creating a thriving landscape of interconnected innovations.
Let's dive deeper into the concept of cross-pollination to foster innovation, where differences in fields are not only accepted but are the preferred course of action.
So before we get into the meat of the matter, I want to make a few things clear here. This is not your usual “go against the grain” sermon. No. We're going to get into the details of entrepreneurship, walking the talk and getting into practice to make innovation the bread and butter of your business – and not just any kind of innovation, but the kind of innovation that makes you say, “Why didn't I think of that?”
Now, dear pioneers of the future, we will confidently embark on this journey of exploration and discovery. The following list is what I call the Ten Commandments of cross-fertilization that will inspire innovation.
Related: How to transform your workplace culture through cross-pollination
1. Celebrate the spirit of the Renaissance
Leonardo da Vinci, the only Renaissance man, didn't just engage in art and science for fun. He realized that the whole world is connected. The most important thing here is to create a Renaissance team. Invite team members to pursue their side hustles, hobbies and other interests. The programmer who is also a photographer can bring a unique feel to UI design. DJs and marketing side hustlers can take a bird's eye view of consumer behavior. Diversity of thoughts and experiences is the breeding ground for innovative ideas.
2. Industry Immersion Sessions
For one day every month, dive deep into an industry that is completely different from yours. If you work in technology, move to hospitality. In finance? Look at what's happening in healthcare. Organize a workshop where team members can share their ideas and think together about how to apply them in your projects. Such sessions will be your innovation hotbed.
3. “What if?” workshops
Wonder is the birth of invention, isn't it? Run regular “what if?” workshops where the only rule is that there can be no wrong ideas. What if we applied the fast food model to personal finance? What if the next time we design software interfaces, we do it like a theme park map? This is where you encourage dreaming of flying in a blue sky, then work backwards to see if a practical application exists.
4. Cross-industry mentoring
Set up mentoring programs with professionals from other industries. These can be informal coffee chats or more structured mastermind sessions. The goal is to provide opportunities to discuss ideas, problems and solutions that can foster innovation. A mentor from the fashion space could help a tech entrepreneur realize that aesthetics are just as important as functionality.
5. The remix technique
“Nothing is ever original,” they say – and they're actually right. Innovation in this case means taking old ideas and combining them in new ways. Tell your team to take two seemingly unrelated things and combine them. It's like a fusion of your business model (Thai tacos, anyone?).
Related: Great minds think differently – 3 ways to use diversity to drive real innovation
6. Fail forward
Fear of failure is the biggest enemy of innovation. Create a culture where failure is seen as a stepping stone to success. Talk about failures and lessons learned. If your team doesn't mind failure, they'll be more willing to take risks that lead to extraordinary progress.
7. External idea incubators
You don't have to limit yourself to the confines of your office when coming up with ideas. Attend hackathons, industry meetups, and innovation centers. These are the places where you have the opportunity to observe people outside your own circle and see how they come up with ideas and solutions. Moreover, it is a wonderful way to find possible co-creators or even future teammates.
8. Cooperation with the customer
Your customers serve as a treasure trove of fresh ideas. Such customer input can be leveraged by setting up forums, surveys or innovation labs where customers can contribute ideas or feedback on new products or services. The benefits are not limited to simply analyzing what your market wants, but rather foster a sense of belonging and unity.
9. The Sabbatical Program
Google's “20% time” policy shows how much employees can benefit from having the freedom to develop their own projects. Try it out, whatever time you can dedicate to it, whether it's a few hours a week or a year-long sabbatical every few years. Such a break from normal activities can sometimes be the source of your company's most innovative ideas.
10. The global view
Innovation knows no boundaries, so who are you to stop it? Look to the world for inspiration. How do other countries approach solving business problems? What has been produced there recently, what is trending abroad? If you haven't learned to look at the world as a whole, you may have missed some solutions.
Related: 5 Key Ways to Create a Culture of Innovation
Innovation is a team game, not an individual sport. The diversity of humanity is a colorful and turbulent dance of thoughts, feelings and perspectives. By encouraging cross-fertilization in this way, you are not only sowing the seeds of innovation, but igniting an entire habitat of creativity and progress. So join forces with the unknown and watch your company grow into a truly groundbreaking entity. The world has opened like an oyster and the pearl of innovation is the cross-fertilization within it. Together we will make it shine.
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