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Design For Ease Of Use, Leadership Card 23 – Not Invented Here
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It’s easy to shoot down someone else’s idea. It’s not so easy to let go of your own. Don’t believe me? That’s what the research says. From studies like the “Wobegon Effect” where almost every student believed they were above average (a feat that is actually statistically impossible, because to have an average you need a large amount of under-performers too) to customer-centric research where CEOs believed they were 70% more likely to give customers a good customer experience than their customers actually rated them, almost everyone overestimates themselves from things like looks, talent (just look at American Idol), skill, and (you guessed it) ideas.
I Didn’t Invent It, So It’s Not That Great?
That’s what most people believe. But if they did come up with the idea, all of a sudden it’s the best thing since sliced bread.
Have you ever had someone talk your ear off at a party, telling you how they came up with the idea for “x”, but so-and-so “stole” their idea? Here’s the other part of that equation: Ideas actually are worthless by themselves. Execution of that idea is everything, which is why hard work matters just as much as smart work.
Help People Come Up With “Their” Idea, And Win
Which is why, as a leader, you can use brainstorming tools or frameworks to steer the conversation or guide the problem that needs to be solved, while allowing the people you are working with to come up with ideas or solutions to their problem.
We’ve all been in a situation where someone outside our team has come in making suggestions, and deep down inside we think “How dare they think they can tell us what to do!” Even if their ideas are good, it’s hard to take them on because they come from outside.
But help those ideas come from inside, from your team, or the people you want to change, and success will flow much more easily.
Chat soon – David McLachlan
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