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Dealing with a bad idea
Todd Henry
Talent
20
There is an often-cited principle of creativity: “There is no such thing as a bad idea.” This is a false principle, as there are bad and dangerous ideas that can be harmful if not dealt with quickly and decisively.
In brainstorming sessions, it is important to address the bad idea, while allowing the brainstorming team to feel safe to come up with new ideas, so that they do not become more conservative and less likely to suggest an idea that may initially seem risky, but may lead to new worlds of possibilities. In such sessions, you may be surprised by some ideas that come up that are dangerous. So do not try to extinguish them, but rather use them to feed and develop the dialogue.
What should you do when you come up with a bad idea? Here are some suggestions:
1. State the potential benefits of the idea right away. Use words like, “What I like about it is…” and “What’s different about it is…” and explain how the idea can be used in a productive way; don’t make the first comment a criticism, especially in a group setting.
2. Use a method to move the idea in a more productive direction. Use the benefits suggested in step 1 as fuel for a new, more productive direction; “What if we took the essence of that idea and instead…” This way the person feels they have made a valuable contribution, but the idea has been modified to be more useful to the team.
3. Make it a rule that no one will shoot down an idea without offering an alternative or building on the existing idea. If the room is tense with the word “no,” then ideas will stop coming up. We need to come up with good ideas through honesty, truthfulness, and constructive encouragement, not tearing down. Don’t tear down without rebuilding.
4. Refocus on the goals. When an idea cannot be reconstructed or salvaged, simply say that it might be valuable in another context, but it does not fit the current goals. In this way, you are not judging the person’s ability, but the appropriateness of the idea.
Always remember that the best way to deal with bad ideas is to set clear goals, and for team members to be clear and transparent with each other.
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