We weren’t created to be alone. People thrive when they work alongside others on something they are passionate about. Creating and building innovative products and services is difficult, but it doesn’t have to be lonely.
Here are three reasons you should find at least one person to work with as you develop something new at your company.
1. The lone genius is a myth
The “lone genius” who has a eureka moment with no outside influences – is a total myth. There might be one name that comes to mind when you think about products like the telephone, lightbulb, or iPhone, but when you actually study the history of those moments of true innovation, you’ll see there were teams working together to make it happen. You’re almost guaranteed to get better results with a partner than by yourself.
2. Partners make each other better
Proverbs 27:17 proclaims: “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” This wisdom can be applied to non-spiritual matters as well. Having a partner in innovation means you are each challenging one another and learning from one another. At our office, we use the phrase “We are smarter than me”, and I’m constantly reminded how true that phrase is.
3. A partner brings a different perspective
With an innovation partner to collaborate with, you are able to bounce ideas off one another. You have someone to not just double-check your thinking, but also to offer a different perspective and give you real insights you wouldn’t have on your own. So when you choose a partner, make sure they complement your strengths and weaknesses. Maybe he has way more experience than you do, or maybe she thinks completely differently than you do. Different perspectives will always lead to better results.
4. It’s just more fun
Yup, there is a bonus 4th reason😉. Not only will you get better results from collaborating with someone else, but this whole process will also be more enjoyable. You’ll have someone to brainstorm crazy ideas, celebrate the wins, and also learn lessons when you miss—someone to say “that was so close…let’s keep shooting!”
Find a partner now
No matter what your current role is in your organization, using innovation practices will allow you to have a bigger impact on the bottom line. Just don’t go it alone - remember “we are smarter than me”.
PS - Are you wanting to bring more innovation to your workplace?
We did too, so we created a step-by-step framework that anyone on our team could use to change “possibly good ideas” into a solid product that has already been battle-tested and de-risked.
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