When we feel like our ideas go unheard or that our managers and coworkers don’t listen to us, we might be set off on a fast track to checking out or becoming disengaged from work. Despite having a good idea, we might say to ourselves, “What’s the point of sharing? No one seems to pay attention to my ideas anyway.” While this perspective might be warranted, it’s also unfortunate because it robs colleagues of our unique point of view that could make a valuable impact on the work, and even on our career.
When it feels like our ideas are dismissed, it often has more to do with how the idea was pitched than the idea itself. For example, timing matters. I used to work for a boss who seemed to disregard nearly every idea I put forward. I would approach him at the end of the day not wanting to interrupt him. Then, I started paying attention to his style. I noticed, and coworkers confirmed, his energy (and positive mood) was at the beginning of the day and the week. He was more open to ideas early before he had depleted his energy making decisions and solving problems. Everyone on the team learned that timing played a big part in our ideas getting support.
If you find your proposals falling flat at work, take a step back and examine your approach before deciding the idea was bad or that your boss isn’t listening. Your strategy likely needs some fine-tuning. Consider these tips.
Think the idea through before sharing it
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We all have had a “eureka!” moment when we think of something that (to us) is brilliant. Maybe it’s a way to save time, solve a problem, or provide better service. A client told me he recently experienced a moment like this while on the treadmill. A great idea to restructure a program came to him. He let excitement take over and blurted the idea out at the next morning’s staff meeting. He was met with silence from some and the old-timers on the team who said, “Yeah, we tried that before and it didn’t work.” He said he felt deflated.
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When inspiration hits, take at least 24 hours to do some research. This means to find out if the team has experience with a similar idea or if it had been suggested and declined already. Consider budget and workload, too. My client went on to share that the silence in the room was also in reaction to the idea creating more work for the team while they were short staffed. It wasn’t because the idea was bad, but rather it invoked long hours. Do your due diligence and research your ideas before pitching them.
Socialize the idea with others
Identify a handful of people who may be impacted by your idea and informally talk about it with them. Get the idea out there, get feedback, and other perspectives. Warm people up without asking for any commitment to it. This step can also remove blind spots in your thinking. New ideas always need tweaks, and it’s impossible to catch all the implications on your own. Socialize it with a few to get perspective and build buy-in.
Anticipate what the decision-maker will think
With any new idea at work, it’s important to know who the decision-maker is and what they will think about the idea. Find out what is important to them and what else is competing for their attention. Also consider how they make decisions. For instance, I know leaders who won’t decide unless they feel like the team has consensus. This means, they won’t make a decision if there are hold-outs. Others will make the call even when some disagree to it. Knowing the decision-maker and proposing your ideas in a way that fits their style and meets their needs will go a long way in getting the ideas approved.
Team up with others
Generally, today’s workplace isn’t much for the loan wolf—an individual contributor who seeks to work independently from others. The current work environment embraces teams and collaboration. If you want your ideas supported, show that you’re a team player. Bring in people who support your idea and also those who don’t; be open to their critiques. It is good experience to work with people who disagree with your ideas. Productive disagreement remains focused on the work and not the person. So when someone disagrees, it’s not personal rejection; the idea needs refinement. This dissent paves the way for more creativity and innovation. The outcome of an idea will make a greater impact if it’s being viewed by multiple perspectives. Moreover, this shows you care more about working with others to deliver great results than standing in a spotlight by yourself.
Building the skills to think broadly about your ideas and partner with others will benefit you at every stage in your career. No doubt, it’s harder and takes more time. But with a few shifts in perspective and in building relationships with others, you likely will find more success and satisfaction in getting support for your ideas.