Outside Look

The New York Times has an excellent short article on the barriers to innovative thinking. One of the key points is the fact that we become experts in a field and then have a hard time thinking ‘outside the box.’

Many managers wish to hire people with significant industry experience, yet think they are bringing in ‘new blood’ - and it won’t work. Bring in new ideas from people who have proven successful in other businesses - B2B marketing managers with consumer packaged goods experience, banking managers with automotive experience. Whatever it takes to bring in new ideas.

The other key task is to ask dumb questions, and allow dumb questions to be answered. It is through the examination of our practices and long held norms that we can begin to innovate and solve new (and old) problems. It takes time, and sometimes the experts get frustrated (and so do the learners), but the fruits of this labor have great value.