Image by Paul Hocksenar

This article is part of the Renegade Manifesto Series.

“That’s how we’ve always done it” isn’t a good reason to do anything. Sure, the way you’ve always done it may actually be the best way to do something. But often, it’s not.

Let’s be honest: HR is not really an “ahead of the curve” profession. But that doesn’t mean you can’t be!

Learn something new. Better yet, try something new. Learning is useless if you don’t do anything with it.

When I say “learn something new,” I don’t just mean learn how to use a new sourcing tool or about a new way to measure engagement. I mean learn something really, truly new. Something innovative. Something that, at first glance may not even seem to apply to HR at all.

Some of the best HR innovations come from applying new, random ideas and concepts to human resources. Twitter? Not developed to be a sourcing tool until a few innovative HR pros started using it like one.

Don’t just embrace innovation and learning for yourself, either. Foster a culture that promotes these values company wide. Encourage – hell, reward – people for making excellent mistakes. Innovation cannot happen without mistakes. Not the mistakes that come from making stupid decisions. The mistakes that happen because someone dreamed big and went for it. Make it safe to make those kinds of mistakes, and innovation will thrive.

Here are some ideas to get you started:

• Learn how to use Twitter and Facebook for recruiting, networking and branding.
• Learn how to create podcasts (audio and video) and slidecasts. Learn how to upload them to YouTube or share them internally.
• Read Think Naked and learn how to embrace your inner child.
• Read Brain Rules and see what kind of workplace innovations it inspires you to create (and come back and share them with your fellow HR Renegades!).
• Perhaps most important: Start reading about things and talking to people who have nothing to do with human resources. That’s where some of your best ideas will come from.