“Everybody believes in innovation until they see it. Then they think, ‘Oh no; that’ll never work. It’s too different.’ “ – Nolan Bushnell
I’m fortunate to be able to work with leaders from a wide variety of backgrounds and industries. Learning about each of their unique situations is one of the best parts of my career. It’s sometimes amazing to me how many different ideas and thoughts I’ve heard from those leaders over the years.
One thing I’ve never heard is any of them saying that they think all new ideas are bad. Rather, almost without exception, they talk about how important it is to be open to new ideas, to make change, to listen to your people about how things could be better, etc. Verbally, being creative and trying new things is something they embrace.
Their actions quite often tell a different story. They talk about the importance of new ideas, but every time they’re presented with a new idea their entire response consists of poking holes in it and explaining to everyone why it won’t work. No matter what the idea or suggestion, they can find flaws in it.
Sometimes leaders complain about the lack of ideas in their organization. Why are they surprised? If you shoot down every idea that comes your way, pretty soon people will stop coming to you with ideas. Nobody wants to bring ideas to someone if it’s just going to feel like a beat down.
I’m not suggesting all ideas are great, or even good. I’m suggesting that one step towards being a more agile and adaptable organization is to treat new ideas like potential solutions before you knock them down. Don’t immediately look for what’s wrong. Look for what’s right.
One organization I’ve worked with over the years has a rule for their leadership team. Any time anyone brings up a new idea or suggestion, no one is allowed to criticize or critique it for at least ten minutes. For that ten minutes, the entire focus of the group has to be on how that idea could work, or could be implemented effectively, or what benefits might be realized from it.
That doesn’t mean they eventually don’t get to the part about discernment. Not all ideas are going to work, and that group eventually says “no” at least as often as they say “yes”. But it’s their attitude about new ideas, and the positivity they associate with those ideas, that makes them different.
As a leader, how do you handle new ideas? Do you immediately start trying to shut them down? Are you instantly critical? Or do you actually embrace them as possibilities, and act like you’re glad to hear them? How you respond sets the tone. Decide today to make that tone positive.
