Where there's a will, there's a way. And that's certainly the case in the wild, where life usually finds a way to survive – even in the most ambiguous conditions. Above we see a Wolphin, a hybrid of the dolphin and false killer whale species.

For quite some time, I’ve enjoyed making the connection between hybrid thinking and hybrid animals. Why you ask? Well, the notion of hybrid animals really helps to drive home one of the key points of difference for hybrid thinking: That, for example, it’s not enough to put a journalist, a Web2.0 guru, and an MBA in a room to solve a highly ambiguous challenge like the future of publishing. And it’s not even enough to simply find a multi-disciplinarian with experience in all of those fields to lead such an effort.

Hybridity is about truly mixing disciplines, mixing at the DNA level to create something entirely new – something that the world has never seen before. Like a Zorse, a Zeedonk, or a Wolphin! And if the disciplines inside your head don’t really mix, then you’re not actually practicing hybrid thinking.

To my delight, a recent New York Times article peels back the lid on the (increasingly important) world of hybrid animals. It’s a great read, and the article helps to illuminate some the pros and cons of hybridity.

On the negative side, the article points out that many hybrid animals don’t quite fit in. Some can’t reproduce. Some can’t find a sustainable niche to call home. And most hybrids are severely out numbered by parent species committed to defending their home turf. Sound familiar?

In business, we see many of the same challenges. Hybrid thinkers don’t always produce great ideas, and they don’t often fit in. And in a world where specialization and execution are celebrated by most firms, those of us espousing emergent ideas usually face a severe uphill battle.

However, hybrids can thrive when the timing is right, especially during periods of great transition. Take for instance the “Grolar Bear,” a hybrid of the Polar Bear and Grizzly Bear species that was first discovered in the wild in 2006. While we all lament the shrinking ecosystem of the Polar Bear, it’s clear that their way of life is on the decline. It turns out that polar life has something in common with a business model that’s ripe for disruption.

But perhaps all is not lost. We may find that the future of the Polar Bear lies in the potential success of the Grolar Bear – an animal that can more freely roam between the shrinking Arctic and the expanding northern tundra. And if Polar Bears can find mates in the Grizzly Bear population with greater frequency, their survival – at least at a DNA level – will be assured.

In nature and business, it seems that being hybrid can be risky. But when ambiguous times roll around, the benefits can be huge.