Why Great Ideas Get Rejected
If anyone has ever rejected an idea you had, you’re in good company. Some of the most important ideas in the world—such as the world is round and the Earth revolves around the sun— were initially rejected. In modern times, handwashing as a means of preventing infections was initially rejected in medical circles, and it still hasn’t found 100 percent acceptance in hospitals despite compelling results of a significant reduction in infections where the practice has been implemented.
But what about when you’re not trying to change the world, or even your organization? You just want to get your boss’s ear for an idea you think can help your department. For many of us, the challenge is to distinguish between having an idea and selling the idea.
A critical starting point in selling your idea is to have credibility, and that means demonstrating that you possess integrity, competence, and sound judgment. It also helps to be likable. Fall short on any of these, and it won’t matter how good your idea is.
Another key is planning, and that means doing your homework. Rushing into your boss’s office and sounding off with a lot of hoopla might get you nothing more than an invitation to leave. If it’s an idea that will require time, resources, or a budget to implement, put together a project plan. Explain the problem, offer solutions, and include information about timelines, costs, and impact.
If you’re delivering your idea in spoken form, how you present yourself is critical. You need to sound confident; neither your idea nor your career will be helped by coming across as a wimp. Be very careful to avoid that little uptick in inflection that people too often use at the end of a sentence that makes them sound unsure of themselves. A friendly tone of voice can also help. Sounding arrogant or coming across as a know-it-all won’t work in your favor.
However you go about it, be concise. Blather on too long or get knee-deep in facts, figures, charts, graphs, and stats galore, and the best idea you’ll sell is that your idea is a great one to sleep through.
To ensure you stick to the essentials, imagine that you’re giving a five-minute presentation. Thinking in terms of five minutes is valuable for planning purposes. When all you have is five minutes, you have no choice but to skip all the nits and bits that bog down most presentations. Instead, lead with your key points and substantiate them with stories and examples that illustrate the value of your idea. Even if your boss doesn’t go along with it, you’ll have demonstrated that you’re worth listening to, and that will boost your chances of succeeding the next time around.
