In my last post, I wrote about how experience, expertise, is an enemy of innovation. The illusion of expertise, where years of experience create a mental roadblock to new ideas, can significantly hamper innovation. It doesn’t just apply to people but to groups; called groupthink, which is expert thinking on steroids!

Anyway, there are ways to break free from this invisible barrier.

Here are some methods to consider:

1. Foster a culture of curiosity. Encourage a workplace environment where questions are welcomed and no idea is considered too small or too silly. Curiosity begets innovation; complacency kills it.
2. Diverse teams. Homogeneity is another enemy of innovation. The more diverse your team, the less likely you are to fall into the trap of expertise. Different perspectives, educational backgrounds, and skill sets can help identify blind spots that a homogeneous team may miss. Remember, where all think alike nobody thinks very much.
3. Challenge assumptions. Regularly list the assumptions that are the basis for your decisions or strategies. Then ask yourself and your team to challenge them. Could an opposite approach work? Has something fundamentally changed that renders your initial assumptions obsolete?
4. Reverse mentoring. This involves pairing seasoned executives with younger employees who can offer fresh perspectives or specialized knowledge, especially related to technology. It’s an excellent way for experienced team members to stay current and avoid the tunnel vision of expertise.
5. Be a perpetual student. Adopt a “beginner’s mind” approach. Read widely, take courses outside of your field, and always be willing to say, “I don’t know, but I’d like to find out.”
6. Embrace failure. If you’re not failing occasionally, you’re probably not venturing far enough out of your comfort zone. Treat failures as learning experiences that are critical to innovation.
7. Encourage debate. Allow for forums where employees can openly debate ideas and challenge the status quo without fear of retribution. Sometimes it takes a bit of friction to spark the fire of innovation.
8. Engage external consultants. Sometimes the very walls of your organization can feel limiting. Bringing in a fresh set of eyes to assess your procedures can provide invaluable insights you might not have considered.
9. Test and iterate. Instead of making grand plans based on your expertise, adopt a more agile approach. Make a small change and test it. Learn from the outcomes and iterate. This minimizes risk and allows for real-world feedback.
10. Open innovation. Encourage team members to interact with people outside the organization. This could be through attending industry events, participating in webinars, or networking with peers in different industries. New environments often lead to new ways of thinking.
11. Reward innovative thinking. Whether through formal recognition, promotions, or bonuses, rewarding innovative thinking makes it clear that the organization values and aims for more than just maintaining the status quo.
12. Self-awareness and humility. Last but not least, constantly remind yourself that no matter how experienced you are, you don’t have all the answers. The humility to accept that you can be wrong makes you open to new ideas, no matter where they come from.

By actively working on these aspects, not only can individuals overcome the illusion of expertise, but organizations can also drive innovation more effectively.