Give That Crazy Idea A Chance

You can't keep a good idea down. Yet, so many leaders think that if they disagree with an idea - no matter how much merit it might have - that they can hold it down. Stopping a good idea is a bad idea.

How can a leader know if an idea is a good one?

You may never know for sure until you try it, but here are some signs:

- most of your team likes the idea
- the idea is a game-changing, even revolutionary concept
- the creative disagreement the idea stirs up creates energy
- you are moved from stasis to action
- the idea promote growth
- the idea is expressed with respect and enthusiasm

I often catch my first impulse being incorrect. I have learned to be careful of following what people affectionately call "gut instinct". My work in six sigma project management proved to me once and for all that gut instinct is often flat wrong. Our gut instinct equals our built in bias. Our gut instinct is that trench we keep marching in because it's too hard to get out of.

Our gut instinct is an illusion.

Stay curious. Examine, even explore that idea that rubs you the wrong way. It just might be the idea that you and your team need the most.

-- Doug Smith

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High Performance Leadership

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