Bad Ideas

  Communications Management   Leadership   ProjectsAtWork  

How do good leaders “put the kibosh” on bad ideas? By knowing how to reject or redirect them in a constructive, collaborative manner — without rejecting the person. Here are six practical tips for handling this tricky situation with patience and panache.

You're in a meeting when a colleague brings up an idea that you think (or even know) is not so great. For many of us, our first instinct is to shoot the idea down immediately, one way or another, before it gains traction. How often have you suffered through this challenging situation?  

When it comes to gaining influence, remember the law of reciprocity. The more you support others, the more they will support you. If you want people to adopt your ideas in the future, you need to be collaborative yourself. You need to support their ideas, or at a minimum, show respect and a willingness to listen before weighing in. Squash a colleague's pet initiative too quickly or be perceived as a naysayer, and you may find that your initiatives will increasingly fail to receive full and fair consideration. 

The key to your success is to learn to reject or redirect bad ideas in a thoughtful, positive and more collaborative way. Consider employing one or more of the six tips below:

1.  Pause. Take a deep breath before weighing in. Often, someone else’s idea can “hijack” you during a …

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