Newcomer innovation

Image courtesy of pixabay / geralt

Everyone has experienced being a newcomer - to start something new in a field, where other people have more experience than the newcomer have. I remember when I got my first job, and soon after I was employed, I was invited to a meeting where the topics were important things that I did not have the least knowledge of.
I remember how I sat at that meeting - paralysed with fear of saying something stupid. I'm not sure that if I had said anything, I could have contributed with anything constructive. But I have since realized that people sitting in that situation should be encouraged to say something - because they are in a unique situation as the people who do not know what is not possible.
So I promised myself that in the future when I'm in such situations - either as as the newcomer who knows nothing, or as the one who is the experienced knowledgable guy - I will use the situation. Either by speaking up after having apologized for my ignorance, or by inviting the newcomer to speak her mind, no matter how stupid she may feel. Because in that situation there are no stupid comments or questions - there are only unexpected ideas, and it would be stupid not to benefit from them.
(Translated from Innovation for begyndere, originally published December 25th, 2012)