As a coach and as a leader, much of my life is focused on continuous
improvement and overcoming obstacles. This is where my passions lie and the
type of work that brings me the most satisfaction. Helping make things
measurably better is just plain fun.
See, here’s the
thing. At the heart of improvement is a process of generating ideas so that
you can turn today’s chaos into tomorrow’s payoff. New and fresh and uncommon
ideas can come from a variety of sources. And most of the time we as leaders do
not personally have the amazing ideas that make the biggest impact.
In a recent issue of Psychology
Today magazine, Nancy Napier shared some righteous advice on processing new
ideas put forward by others. It certainly goes hand in hand with my recent
message on listening skills and has broad application to your life as a leader.
Here is Nancy’s message:
“Think of the last time you
tossed out a wild idea at work? Did everyone jump on it and tell you it
was terrific? Or did some snicker and say, “you’re kidding, right?”
I hope you got more of the former, but I’ll bet you’ve had some snickering
too.
When that happens, ideas stop
cold.
Unfortunately, the squelching
of ideas happens even in organizations that try hard to encourage innovation. I once heard an employee say that when she
mentioned something a bit off the wall, the CEO leaned back in his chair, crossed
his arms, and lifted an eye brow. Never said a word but the message
was clear. That was it for the employee. She never put an idea on
the table again.
These days with more competition inside and out of the U.S., with more pressure to be
green and efficient – we’re desperate for creativity. Managers say they
want to do things differently to get better, yet the process of getting ideas
out in the open is treacherous. Too often, seedlings of ideas are simply
stomped out before they have a chance to flourish.
So what can you do – as an
individual employee or as a manager or team
leader?
When an idea comes to you –
whether from your own imagination or from another person — slow down, and then
use three simple but powerful words.
Tell…Me…More.
That’s it. Instead of
jumping to reasons why an idea won’t work, just stop and say:
Tell me more.
Why are those words so
powerful?
For at least two
reasons. First, they force slowing and listening. That tells the
person who suggests the idea that she or he is worth listening to. Also,
it makes the point that you think the idea and creativity are important (at
least for a few minutes!). Next, those words convey openness, which is
crucial for a culture of creativity to happen.
Finally, the three powerful
words also give the idea a chance to “breathe.” New ideas can be like
tiny seedlings trying to take hold and sprout through the mind’s full and messy
clutter of thoughts. But like a seedling you plant in your backyard, it’s
fragile. If you step on it, the seedling – and the idea – can die.
So by slowing down, by asking to hear more, the idea gets a little more time to
become stronger.
In the end, of course, the
idea may not survive because it’s not a good one. But at least it gets
some time and protection from immediate squelching. And by giving
it a little extra breathing room, perhaps it can grow in ways and places that
no one expected … and become a great idea.
All from three small but
powerful words…
Tell me more.”
Try
these three little words, these ten letters, in a few situations over the next
couple of days and you may just be amazed. And, in the end, when you ask
someone to tell you more, they will return the favor and listen to your ideas
like never before.
