Question:
I recently asked my team for some suggestions to improve sales in our area. How do I provide feedback when I’m not sure about the proposed ideas? I don’t want them to stop suggesting ideas.
Answer:
While you can’t endorse every idea to protect people’s feelings, you do need to be mindful your feedback doesn’t demoralize or stop creative input from the individual or entire group. Ways you can do this are:
- If you don’t like someone’s suggestion, ask yourself why. Be conscious of your own beliefs and perceptions. Do they affect the way you think about this particular suggestion? Are you so attached to your way of thinking that you’re not open to other opinions and possibilities? Encourage team members to reserve judgment until the new idea has been thoroughly and fairly discussed.
- Outline the things you like about the idea. Is there anything in the idea worth further consideration?
- Comment on other potential applications for the idea beyond your original need. Could it work in another department or for a different product?
- Express your concerns and reservations about the idea in a straightforward, non-judgmental way. Allow the person responsible for the idea to respond to your concerns, directing the situation back to them. They may provide examples of where the idea has been successful in similar circumstances, or offer to build a model or design a pilot project. It gives them the opportunity to reevaluate the proposal and perhaps consider withdrawing it
This sort of feedback shouldn’t deter the enthusiastic contributor from expressing themselves in the future. Listening for the idea instead of listening against it allows the new idea to be fully and fairly considered.
By suspending judgment you are giving the contributor an opportunity to express their ideas and have them explored in a non-threatening and inviting environment.
