Fresh Eyes Effect

The 'Fresh Eyes Effect' describes how outsiders to a domain often spot problems and generate better solutions than domain experts. Expertise creates invisible constraints — the more you know, the better you are at filtering out 'impossible' ideas. Three reasons fresh perspectives work: creativity decays over time, daily exposure makes problems invisible, and expertise builds mental walls around what's possible. A practical technique called the 'Power of 180' suggests deliberately doing the opposite of established norms (e.g., skipping portfolios in hiring, publishing salary bands). The recommendation is to periodically invite someone from a completely different area to review your processes with no preconceptions.