The most common and worst possible reaction to ideas being shared is somebody saying… "That's a great idea... but!"

1. Have you ever heard that? 
2. Have you ever experienced that?
3. Have you ever done that?

We've all done it. I've done it! We've all murdered an idea at its conception.

"Don’t murder the birth of innovation when somebody shares an idea."

The challenge is to focus on the potential of the idea as a starting point that will lead to the optimum solution. Let your team, fail, explore, discover, breathe, flow and expand until they spread their wings and fly without a net..

Throughout my years in varied positions of leadership and while giving corporate trainings and workshops around the world, I've seen and heard many murderers of innovation. Don't squash an idea from the onset when somebody makes a suggestion... you'll otherwise miss out on an incredible amount of potential. Allow all ideas to be shared, heard and considered, regardless of how valid or invalid the initially appear. Listen to a "bad idea" with full consideration for "what if"... or even better, "yes, and!" This attitude and collaborative approach will open the door to a better idea, which in turn will inspire the right idea. 

“If you have an apple and I have an apple and we exchange these apples then you and I will still each have one apple. But if you have an idea and I have an idea and we exchange these ideas, then each of us will have two ideas.” - George Bernard Shaw

At ENGAGE we believe that the single most effective solution or STEP, to inspire ideas and collaboration is through creative empowerment. Disrupt your leadership, culture and innovation strategy. Invite your employees to participate and contribute more. Allow them to act as a launching pad and catalyst for innovation, change and ultimately growth and differentiation.

Inspire and stimulate creativity and innovation by making risk and the acceptance of  failure a part of your strategy and identity.

In order to achieve this objective, leaders must embrace individuality (within a teamwork mindset), and get out the way, allowing team members to be free to spread their wings, reach higher, and fly without a net

Find out more about our trainings, workshops and keynotes that are designed to strengthen leadership, stimulate creativity and build happier teams: ENGAGEteams.com

If this blog was of value, please feel welcome to borrow and/or share. 

THANK YOU - Vital Germaine