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Any entrepreneur looking for success and longevity in their chosen field should be aware that innovation is one of the best ways to stand out from the crowd. Acknowledging this is especially important when it comes time to build a team to support the vision. In this article, we’ve described how taking an unconventional approach to recruitment can inspire innovation.
Cross-Pollination Breeds Breakthroughs
While innovative ideas can come to people fully formed like a bolt of lightning, most of the time these breakthroughs require plenty of experimentation and thought. One of the best ways to cultivate an innovation mindset is “cross-pollination”, which is the combining of knowledge from two unrelated fields to uncover untapped opportunities.
Cross-pollination is especially common in the technology and entertainment sectors. Take real money online slots, for example. The modern digital variants of these games are a far cry from their origins, with the latest releases now often featuring well-designed visuals, animations, and soundscapes that are commonplace in film entertainment. The cross-pollination of two forms has resulted in something fresh and impactful.
Recruit for Innovation
Neuroscientist Barbara Oakley discusses the cross-pollination effect in her book Mindshift, suggesting that many innovations come from people who were skilled in one field and decided to enter an entirely unrelated one.
The idea is that these people will apply particular knowledge, insights, and problem-solving skills to processes in a way that people who have years of experience in a sector would never consider. For example, a former project manager may enter a human resources team and apply their knowledge of time and resource management to resolve issues with employees in a radical yet effective way.
Therefore, when looking to build a team, it can be helpful for entrepreneurs and business owners to widen their horizons when it comes to candidate backgrounds. Consider that hard skills can be taught but experiences cannot be. If candidates have proven success in an entirely unrelated field and are eager to learn and grow, they could bring ideas that are ultimately priceless.
What to Consider During Recruitment
Naturally, the potential value of a candidate may be hard to quantify when taking this approach. Therefore, it can be worthwhile to find alternatives to interviews when recruiting. Instead, provide the applicants with challenges that test their innovation and problem-solving skills rather than hard skills.
A recruiter could create a workshop with a problem that must be solved using lateral thinking and host an ideation session. Take note of whose ideas are the most surprising and whether the business could benefit from the applicant’s inspired approach. Anyone who is motivated by challenges rather than fearful of them will likely have beneficial assets for an innovation-minded company.
Cross-pollination is a proven method that can help companies discover visionary solutions to their problems. When recruiting, understand that just because an applicant doesn’t have experience in a particular field, it doesn’t mean that they won’t be valuable. Strong teams benefit from a diverse way of thinking and problem-solving, and sometimes innovative breakthroughs require innovative hiring.
The post How Outside of the Box Recruitment Can Boost Innovation appeared first on Home Business Magazine.
