Collisions can be a good thing — under the right circumstances. Nobody wants to be in a fender bender. But when unlikely collaborators and ideas collide, that’s a different story.
“Accidental collisions” play a key role in innovation and workplace satisfaction. These chance meetings encourage employees to connect in ways they wouldn’t otherwise and can lead to surprisingly impactful results. In fact, unexpected conversations create opportunities for collaboration between unlikely partners and generally foster a happier, more productive workforce.
While these collisions may be spontaneous, the setting in which they occur is not. Companies can thoughtfully create work settings that drive the unexpected. And it pays off. Research shows that companies that successfully connect and engage employees yield almost 150 percent higher earnings per share compared to their peers.