So, how exactly are we killing ideas? Relax - We all carry the bug, and each of us has heard the voice of the naughty kid inside that pops up every time we hear a new idea and gets us to say: “What?! We’ve tried that idea already and it didn’t work!”
Even if we’re creative types, we sometimes can’t stop ourselves from uttering: “Yes, but it’ll never work.”
Even if we’re patient and open-minded managers, at some point we’re likely to find the following sentence escape from our mouths: “It doesn’t fit into our current set of priorities.”
We’re all murderers; okay, that’s not a nice word. We’re all idea-killers. Perhaps it’s better that way. Otherwise, we’d be drowning in a swamp of new ideas that don’t provide a sound basis from which we can progress .
It’s really important to be conscious of the types of phrases that kill an idea, however; even if it is no guarantee that we will stop using them! Still, when we say one of the sentences listed below, it is crucial for us to understand its true meaning and implications.
Here are some idea-killing phrases to watch out for (please feel free to add your own)…
You don’t really understand the problem.
We have too many projects on at the moment.
It’s too innovative.
Our department is not responsible for that.
If it’s so clever, how come nobody has done it before?
I don’t believe it’s going to work.
It’s nice in theory.
It sounds too good to work in reality.
We need to do extensive research before we can discuss it.
Submit something in written-form.
We’ve already tried it once.
We’ve seen this at an exhibition.
We’ve never done something like this before.
Interesting video! Last week I found a poster called “Idea Killers” at http://www.ideakillers.net. It made me think! And I created a poster with Idea promoters instead - in my oppinion it is important to know what can kill ideas, but more important to know how to promote and nurture them. My field of work is mostly education so I made the poster in relation to the innovation and creativity in the classroom (http://innobox.dk/repository/documents/INNOVATION%20PROMOTERS%20IN%20EDUCATION.pdf)
Best regards Michael
“It will cannibalize our products.”
“It’s only a niche market.”
“The CEO/FO/OO/whatever will never approve it.”
“We can’t compete with our won distributors.”
“Its too easy to copy. The competition will do the same in no time.”
“This is not going to work for us, we are special and unique.”
“This is nothing more than …. would the market call it creative?”
“We can’t offer supporting examples of applications in our industry/city/country.”
“We have already planned next two years’ budget.”
“Top management has told us to preserve statu quo in this crisis.”
It reminds me of a similar list in one of Russell Ackoff books, something like defensive routines to innovative ideas.
Thank you Amnon and Fabian for your comments and additions
Michael, you made me think (which is always good news
) I think, it’s kind of: you have to know what kills them in order to save them. and i’ll be happy if you could share your list of how to promote ideas.
In many cases we are kind of ‘idea-guards’ (at least for those that worth guarding) and a list of how to promote ideas can definitely helps us to do our job better.
thank you