Squid Game and innovation… really?
At first glance, a dystopian show about deadly playground games might seem like an odd place to find business insights. But think about it: the contestants in Squid Game are under immense pressure, navigating unpredictable challenges, and constantly forced to rethink their strategies just to survive. Sound familiar?
If you’re driving innovation within your organization, you face your own high-stakes challenges. Limited resources, intense competition, and the need to adapt quickly are just a few of the pressures intrapreneurs and business leaders encounter daily. And just like in Squid Game, clinging to old methods can lead to failure, while creativity, collaboration, and calculated risk-taking can mean the difference between survival and success.
As Season 2 launches this month, here are five key innovation lessons inspired by Squid Game, paired with real-world examples to prove these aren’t just survival tactics for TV. They’re strategies that work in business, too.
1. Reinvention for a New Age
In Squid Game, survival doesn’t just require adapting to the rules of each game, it often demands a complete reinvention of strategies. Clinging to old methods can be fatal, while the willingness to pivot entirely can lead to success. The ability to disrupt one’s own approach is the ultimate survival skill.
Real-World Example: Netflix’s Shift from DVDs to Streaming
Netflix’s transformation is a masterclass in deliberate reinvention. In the early 2000s, Netflix dominated the DVD rental-by-mail market. But instead of clinging to their successful model, they anticipated the rise of digital streaming. In 2007, they launched their streaming platform, even though it risked cannibalizing their core business. The bet paid off. By embracing streaming and continuously reinventing themselves Netflix not only survived but thrived. Meanwhile, competitors like Blockbuster, who refused to abandon their old model, vanished.
Intrapreneur Insight: True innovation often requires more than just adapting to change. It demands a willingness to disrupt your own successful business model in pursuit of a better one. Leaders who proactively reinvent for the future can stay ahead of the competition.
2. Collaboration Over Competition
In the Tug-of-War episode, an unlikely group of contestants wins not through brute strength but by executing a strategic plan together. The lesson? Collaboration and leveraging each team member’s strengths can outperform cutthroat competition.
Real-World Example: 3M’s Post-it Note
The Post-it Note was born out of collaboration within 3M. Spencer Silver, a 3M scientist, invented a weak adhesive in 1968, but its potential wasn’t clear. It took another employee, Art Fry, who needed a bookmark for his choir hymnal, to connect the dots. By sharing ideas and working together across departments, they turned a failed adhesive into one of 3M’s most iconic products.
Intrapreneur Insight: Fostering a collaborative culture and encouraging cross-departmental sharing can uncover innovative ideas that competition or isolation would miss.
3. Question the System
In Squid Game, the participants initially accept the brutal nature of the games. It’s only when they start questioning the rules (and the fairness of the system) that they gain new perspectives on how to survive. Similarly, organizations that challenge conventional wisdom often spark the most innovative breakthroughs.
Real-World Example: Adobe’s “Kickbox” Innovation System
Adobe realized that traditional hierarchies and approval processes stifled innovation. To shake things up, they introduced Kickbox, a DIY innovation toolkit that gives employees a prepaid credit card, step-by-step guidance, and permission to pursue any idea they believe in. By questioning the rigid structures of traditional R&D, Adobe empowered intrapreneurs to develop and test ideas autonomously, leading to new products and insights.
Intrapreneur Insight: If traditional processes are stifling creativity, challenge the status quo and create systems that empower employees to innovate freely.
4. Calculated Risk-Taking
In Squid Game, success doesn’t come from blind luck or reckless decisions. The characters who survive are those who take calculated risks — like Gi-hun’s deliberate approach in the Honeycomb game or Sang-woo’s careful calculation on the glass bridge.
Real-World Example: Google’s 20% Time Policy
Google’s famous 20% time policy encourages employees to spend 20% of their workweek on personal projects or ideas. While risky (because not every project yields results), this policy has led to the development of products like Gmail and Google Maps. By allowing employees to take smart, calculated risks, Google fosters a culture of continuous innovation.
Intrapreneur Insight: Encourage a balance of boldness and strategic thinking. Allow room for experimentation, but ensure risks are measured and aligned with business goals.
5. Creativity Under Pressure
In Squid Game, contestants are under constant pressure, but it’s often this urgency that leads to their most creative problem-solving, like when Gi-hun uses the warmth of his saliva to help crack the honeycomb shape.
Real-World Example: Slack’s Pivot from Gaming to Collaboration
Slack began as an internal communication tool for a failed gaming company, Tiny Speck. When the game didn’t succeed, the team pivoted under pressure, realizing that the tool they had created for internal use could fill a gap in workplace communication. This creative pivot under tight circumstances led to Slack becoming a billion-dollar company and a staple in workplace collaboration.
Intrapreneur Insight: Constraints, whether time, budget, or resources, can be catalysts for innovation. Teams under pressure should look for creative ways to repurpose existing tools or knowledge.
Final Thoughts
Squid Game might be a dystopian thriller, but its lessons about reinvention, collaboration, questioning systems, calculated risk-taking, and creativity under pressure are highly relevant for today’s innovators. Whether you’re an intrapreneur navigating corporate challenges or a leader fostering a culture of innovation, these lessons can help you survive (and thrive) in your innovation endeavours.
As Season 2 approaches, remember: innovation, like survival, often comes down to thinking differently and being ready to reinvent.
This is your game — how will you play it?
