On occasion the first idea your team presents to you is not the best idea that they can develop. Saying “No” to the first idea, even if you like it, may open the door to developing better ideas. If you find yourself approving the first ideas always, your business may not be reaching its potential. This concept also works for all types of output from your team, whether it is creative work, a new marketing plan or analysis.
It takes leadership skills to say “No” and then to harvest the additional best effort to build a better idea. Obviously, this is easier if you have a team of passionate people who need no convincing to produce the best work all of the time. You want your team to improve everyday because they will see the fruits of becoming better without being gripped by fear. Creating a team willing to assume risk to create better ideas will improve the entire business over time.
“All achievements, all earned riches, have their beginning in an idea.” –Napoleon Hill, author
How does saying “No” achieve better results?
Follow these tips to solicit and encourage better ideas and work output from your team:
- Your attitude as leader. When the team presents a new idea, your role is to be mentor and teacher with patience to bring out the best your team can produce. If you are saying to yourself that you don’t have time to do this, then find the time. Developing your team is one of your most important tasks. Exclusively saying “Go figure it out” all of the time will lower productivity while your team moves around without direction.
- Find the aspects of the idea you really like and tell them to do better on everything else. Rejecting first ideas may irritate some team members because they may believe you are being difficult. Unless that first idea is 100% unacceptable, point out the aspects that do fit your vision and the long term strategy. This is not about people’s feelings; it’s about influencing your team to work harder, willingly.
- Saying “No” to the first idea will push your team to do better. I do believe that if you accept that first idea, you may never see the best ideas. Push them to do it better each time. Share with them what you are looking for and how it fits the vision. The investment in time and other resources will deliver great returns in the future because they will improve their skills.
- The potential for bigger projects and skills improvement for your team members. You must focus your leadership on always building the skills of your team. Having them re-work ideas will engage them to think differently and better each time. Their creativity will flourish. You may also be saying that you want your team to bring their best ideas the first time, but you may have to invest your time and effort into developing those skills, and you will find they will critique their own work better often resulting in the best work possible.
- Be willing for your team to influence you even if it means drastic change. As you develop your team, you may find yourself in a position that your team is influencing you to re-look your vision, mission and strategy. This is positive because your investment in creating the best team possible will help you to overcome complacency and roadblocks in your own thinking.
The fundamental belief is that rejecting first ideas will lead to better ideas. To make this concept work, you as the leader have to encourage and reward risk taking. It is not about telling your team they are not producing great work. You want to push them to create the best work, willingly, and not in a coercive and hostile environment.
There is always a balance when encouraging and expecting the best work while meeting tough deadlines. You have to hold individuals and the whole team accountable to high standards. But, you also have to invest the time and effort to develop them. If you lower your standards or if you are too quick to accept the first work from your team, you are risking lower the standards of your team.
“I always feel like rejection is my petrol. That’s what keeps me going.” -Laura Kightlinger, writer and actress
How can you use the concept of “No” for first ideas in your business to achieve better results later?
Please comment or email me at comment@stephenmclain.com.
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Copyright 2016 – Stephen McLain