Your Idea Stinks!!!

Dear “Idea Guy,”

At the beginning, when you first present your idea, almost no one on the “team” you answer to, get approval from and are accountable to is gonna think your idea is great.

They’re not.

Just face it.

And in fact, their job is kind of not to! The reason they’re around you at the high level they are is to critically think about everything your organization or department sets it’s hand to and make it better and eventually make it great.

That’s why you love them and hate them all at the same time.

Several implications:

1. If your the “Idea Guy” grow some thick skin.

Being the guy* who’s gotta walk in the meeting and have every new, revolutionary idea shot at is not easy.

But nothing great ever was ever easy, was it? That’s your job, so do it. We need you to do it. Keep fighting well.

2. Don’t be surprised when a few of your “great ideas” don’t make it through.

Sometimes you have to trust your team and let a great idea die. That’s just part of being an idea guy.

3. Pick your battles wisely.

If every idea is the next great idea, then your team is gonna develop a lot of “white noise” in their ears for your voice.

Learning to filter all your great ideas is a long-developed art. Honing that skill is one of the most important things you’ll ever do.

4. If you’re on the team, empathize with the idea guy.

What he has to do is extremely difficult. The more you can lead with encouragement first, the better you will all be and the better the meeting will go.

If he knows you believe in him and love and support him, he will way more likely to listen to your critiques after that.

5. Never forget that the future of your organization rests wholly on 2 things:

 
– The greatness of the Ideas that guy brings in that look crazy at the beginning.
– How much greater you can actually make them together.

 
Footnote

* I am saying “guy” but there are great idea “girls” out there too. No offense obviously. Just trying to be concise with my point above.