This morning I read an interesting article on the MSN Career section entitled How to Pitch Your Ideas so People Will Listen.
In this article, the author Kate Lorenz gives 7 great steps to getting your good idea noticed.
As a manager, did you know that one of your responsibilities is to get your people to talk about their good ideas? In one of the offices I do some work with, I’m amazed at the great ideas the office staff comes up with. From creative ways to market programs to innovative ways to rearrange the office, their brains are constantly functioning and spinning out great ideas.
The one challenge they face (and I believe this is very common) is that they fear rejection of their ideas simply because of their position in the “pecking order.” Now fortunately in this office, the door is always open to the president and all ideas are highly valued, but it’s not the case in many places I’ve been. In fact some managers will actually take the great ideas and implement them as their own! See the movie Working Girl with Melanie Griffith if you want a great example.
So are you constantly asking your staff for new ideas? Do you at least listen to them even if you know within the first 30 seconds the idea won’t work? Are you giving them credit for everything they suggest?
Your organization needs your great ideas so let’s not keep them waiting!
Great post Malcolm. Thanks. I'd like to hear even more about what "listening means to the person with good ideas ...and to the listener..."
Where you say "the door is always open to the president..." is it also true that good ideas can also BECOME the president. That is what makes an "equity of good ideas" work with win-win benefits, as I see it anyway.
Posted by: Ellen | July 22, 2006 11:26 AM | Permalink to Comment