5 Ways To Tap Into The One Unexpected Thing For Massive Career Growth
Mark Twain famously said, “There is no such thing as a new idea.”
But he wasn’t a cynic; he believed that all “new” ideas were born from existing ideas combined in creative ways. And when viewed through this lens, one could make countless combinations indefinitely.
Said another way, he was speaking about the power of cross-pollination.
In much the same way pollen is transferred from one plant to another, cross-pollination in business happens when we seek out, share, and exchange knowledge and perspectives and combine them to create entirely new ideas.
Cross-pollination is closely linked to creativity, the ability to perceive the world in new ways, find hidden patterns, make connections between seemingly disparate things, and generate innovative solutions. And the ability to develop imaginative new ideas is a highly valuable career skill no matter your industry.
Here are five ways to tap into the power of cross-pollination:
1. Cultivate an ideal environment for it
You can’t cross-pollinate if you’re never exposed to ideas and perspectives beyond your own. Put yourself in a position to cross-pollinate by actively expanding your knowledge base from multiple sources. Read diverse books, listen to a variety of podcasts, watch interesting Ted Talks, and attend events that attract smart, savvy people outside your geographic region and primary industry.
2. Be open-minded
A cross-pollination mindset means you’re open to the possibilities, even if it makes you uncomfortable. It’s easy to align yourself with like-minded people, but you’ll get a greater diversity of ideas by interacting with those you’d otherwise avoid. Challenge yourself to consider concepts from unfamiliar sources and engage in discussions with people who don’t share your views, expertise, or background. When you open your mind to the cross-pollination of what’s beyond your status quo, you make room for innovation and discovery.
3. Lead with curiosity
Curiosity fuels cross-pollination. When you’re genuinely curious about others, how the world works, and what’s possible, you’ll find yourself asking questions like “What if?” and “Why not?” Leading with curiosity can help you reframe established processes and products and create an environment that fosters big ideas. It challenges conventional thinking and helps you arrive at solutions you may not have considered if you hadn’t questioned the status quo. Curiosity is also an excellent antidote to “but we’ve always done it this way” thinking.
4. Adopt a connect-the-dots perspective
Henry David Thoreau famously said, “It’s not what you look at that matters; it’s what you see.” You’ll find cross-pollination inspiration everywhere when you begin to tap into your awareness and pay attention. The best cross-pollinators use all of their senses and are incredibly observant. They play connect-the-dots with ideas and thoughts, adopting a unique perspective to envision what’s possible, making them the in-demand innovators and creative thinkers companies and clients most value.
5. Resist the urge to self-censor
As you embrace the concept of cross-pollination, the natural (and preferred) consequence will be many ideas. Some of these will be great, some will be mediocre, and some might even fail miserably. But don’t dwell on the clunkers; view them as fuel to spur additional cross-pollination. Rather than self-censoring, allow yourself the freedom to produce as many new ideas as possible without fear, which will up your chances of creating something no one has thought of before.
By using these five ways to tap into the power of cross-pollination, you’ll increase your ability to generate imaginative new ideas, giving yourself a powerful career advantage.
