Navigating the Uncertainty of New Ideas: Building Consensus in the Workplace
September 23, 2024
- Innovation is crucial for competitive advantage, but new ideas often face resistance due to differing perceptions and a lack of shared evaluation standards among decision-makers.
- Research shows that novel ideas encounter increased perceived risk when team members have varying opinions on their value, leading to reduced support.
- Establishing shared criteria for evaluating new ideas can reduce subjectivity, facilitate constructive discussions, and align teams toward common goals.
- Clear evaluation frameworks help manage diverse perspectives without chaos, promoting an environment where innovative ideas can thrive.
- Practical steps for leaders include holding pre-evaluation sessions to agree on criteria, understanding team perspectives, and implementing a scoring system for objective assessments.
670 words ~ 3.5 min. read
Innovation is often viewed as essential for gaining a competitive edge, but new ideas frequently face pushback within organizations. Research indicates that the uniqueness of an idea can lead to rejection because of perceived risks. Recently, it's become clear that there's a bigger issue: decision-makers often lack shared standards for assessing the value of an innovation. This disconnect causes differing views on the potential success of new ideas, which ultimately stifles innovation efforts. It’s important to address this disconnect, as bringing decision-makers together on standards can create a more supportive environment for innovation, driving progress and helping maintain a competitive edge.
Diverging Perceptions Make Innovation Feel Risky
A recent study shows that the more novel an idea is, the more opinions differ about its potential value, which can become a risk factor. When team members perceive the same idea very differently, the perceived risk associated with the innovation increases. As a result, people are less likely to support it—not because the idea is flawed, but due to a lack of shared understanding of its benefits or drawbacks.
Researchers found that differing views on an idea's potential create a psychological barrier to support, especially without a common framework for discussion. In these cases, decision-makers may rely on personal biases or past experiences, leading to the rejection of potentially groundbreaking ideas. This underscores the need for open dialogue and a shared understanding within teams so that innovative ideas receive the evaluation they deserve, rather than being dismissed too early.
The Importance of Shared Criteria for Evaluating Ideas
One main point from this research is the need for shared criteria when assessing new ideas. Without a common framework, discussions about innovation can become scattered and unproductive. When team members view an idea from different perspectives, it can lead to debates that focus more on defending personal opinions instead of objectively evaluating the idea.
To address this issue, leaders and teams should create clear and agreed-upon criteria for evaluating new ideas, which brings several benefits:
- Reduces Subjectivity: With a standardized set of criteria, teams are less likely to let personal biases or gut feelings influence evaluations. Discussions focus on measurable and relevant factors like market potential, feasibility, alignment with strategic goals, and the idea's ability to solve problems.
- Facilitates Constructive Discussions: Clear criteria allow discussions to center on how well an idea meets specific standards instead of arguing about the idea's validity. This approach fosters more productive conversations that can help improve an idea rather than dismissing it too soon.
- Encourages Diverse Input Without Chaos: Different perspectives are essential for innovation, but they must be managed effectively. Using clear evaluation criteria can help organize diverse ideas within a team by providing a common language and framework for discussion, reducing confusion and encouraging constructive feedback.
- Aligns Teams Around a Common Goal: When everyone understands what makes a "good idea" based on shared goals and criteria, it's easier to support new concepts. This alignment is essential for creating an innovative culture where new ideas are not only generated but also actively promoted and effectively implemented.
Practical Steps to Build Consensus on Innovation Evaluation
To create a more unified approach to evaluating new ideas, implement the following strategies:
- Hold Pre-Evaluation Sessions: Bring the team together to agree on evaluation criteria aligned with strategic objectives and innovation goals.
- Use a Scoring System: Implement a scoring system to objectively rate each idea based on the agreed criteria, making comparisons easier.
- Emphasize Psychological Safety: Foster an environment where team members feel safe to share diverse opinions, allowing for fair assessment of ideas.
Bottom Line
The journey from coming up with ideas to putting them into action can be uncertain, especially with new concepts. However, teams can manage this uncertainty better by setting up a common framework to evaluate new ideas. By agreeing on clear criteria, organizations can reduce perceived risks and foster a more inclusive and dynamic culture of innovation. The key to overcoming fear of the unknown is building consensus and trust, allowing teams to confidently embrace new ideas with clear strategies.
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Did we upgrade to a premium plan for a feature we used once? Is there a free or cheaper alternative that would work just as well? (This is especially important to ask yourself with many AI programs out there doing things you once needed from desparate pieces of software. Many platforms now do multiple tasks and you can cancel those that are redundant.) Common culprits include stock photo subscriptions, legacy software that's been replaced but never cancelled, LinkedIn Premium accounts for former salespeople, and that project management tool everyone swore they'd use but didn't. Action item: Create a simple spreadsheet listing every subscription, its monthly cost, who uses it, and when you last reviewed it. Set a calendar reminder to repeat this exercise every six months. Stop #2: Your Pricing Structure Time needed: 2-3 hours When was the last time you looked at your pricing? Not tweaked it, but truly analyzed whether it reflects your current costs, expertise, and market position? Many business owners set their prices years ago and rarely revisit them. Meanwhile, their costs have increased, their skills have improved, and their market value has grown. You could be leaving significant money on the table. Here's a quick pricing health check: Compare your pricing to three competitors. Are you significantly lower? Why? Calculate your true cost of delivery TODAY including your time, materials, overhead, and a reasonable profit margin. Are you actually making money on each sale? Review your most and least profitable products or services. Should you be promoting different offerings? Check if you have any "legacy" customers still on old pricing from years ago. Action item: Block out time next week to analyze your three best-selling products or services. Run the numbers, then consider whether a strategic price increase makes sense. Stop #3: Vendor Contract Review Time needed: 1-2 hours per major vendor Your business relationships shouldn't be on autopilot. That insurance policy, cleaning service, or shipping contract you signed three years ago? The market has probably changed, and you might have more negotiating power than you think. Start with your biggest recurring expenses: rent, insurance, utilities, payment processing, shipping, and major suppliers. For each one, ask: When did we last shop around or renegotiate? Has our volume increased, potentially qualifying us for better rates? Are there competitors offering introductory deals to win our business? What would it take to get a 10% discount—annual prepayment, longer contract, higher volume commitment? You'd be surprised how often a simple phone call results in immediate savings. For instance, if you were to contact your credit card processor to discuss rates and review options, and they agreed to reduce their processing fees by 0.4%, how much money would that put in your pocket instead of theirs? It’s worth the ask. Action item: Identify your top five recurring expenses. 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Here's a realistic action plan: Week 1: Review subscriptions and cancel what you don't need (30-45 minutes) Week 2: Analyze your three best-selling products/services for pricing opportunities (2-3 hours) Week 3: Contact your biggest vendor to discuss rates and terms (1 hour) Week 4: Create your cash flow calendar and identify one timing improvement (1-2 hours) Total time investment: 5-7 hours Potential monthly recovery: $500-$3,000+ Potential annual recovery: $6,000-$36,000+ Finding hidden cash is as easy as setting aside the time to pay attention to the details that get overlooked when you're busy running and growing your company. The beauty of this is that every dollar you recover goes straight to your bottom line. You don't have to market for it, deliver it, or service it. It's simply money that was already yours. You just needed to find it. ----------------------------- Christina Metcalf is a writer and women’s speaker who believes in the power of story. She works with small businesses, chambers of commerce, and business professionals who want to make an impression and grow a loyal customer/member base. She is the author of The Glinda Principle , rediscovering the magic within. _______________________________________ Medium: @christinametcalf Facebook: @tellyourstorygetemtalking Instagram: @christinametcalfauthor LinkedIn: @christinagsmith
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To captivate that audience, you need to first understand who the audience is, then present something that they need/want, and make that solution plausible/believable. But sadly, most businesses and professionals describe their services in generic ways that sound dreamy but completely inactionable or boring such as: A life coach who writes, “I help people follow their dreams.” Or a bakery that posts, “We sell cookies.” Why Generic Messaging Falls Flat Now before you argue, “But it’s what we do,” consider this: when was the last time you searched, “How do I follow my dreams?”? While you don’t have to go into long descriptions about what you do and how you do it, you do need to help your ideal client think to themselves, “That’s what I need.” It’s time to tighten up your marketing message. 1. Identify who you’re speaking to and be specific. Is it moms? Doctors? Students? Who will see the most help from your offerings? 2. Solve a problem they already have. Marketing your product or service will be so much easier if you’re selling something they already know they need. 3. Use language that fits what they’re looking for. Again, very few people are googling, “How do I follow my dreams?”. 4. Show how you can help them get what they want. Your customers have needs, wants, and struggles. They need to trust you understand what that is and can help them. 5. Line up testimonials that speak the same language. If you go through all the work to craft your marketing message, you want to use testimonials that reinforce it. So, let’s put that all together. Remember the life coach who helped people follow their dreams? We’re going to transform that message from meh to mesmerizing. Step 1. Identify the audience Instead of using the generic “people,” the life coach drills down to the realization she works best with mid-career professional women who feel stuck in unfulfilling jobs. Step 2. Solve a problem they already have Their problem isn’t “I can’t follow my dreams.” It’s “I’m burned out in my career and don’t know how to pivot without starting over.” Step 3. Employ the language they’re actually using Her ideal client is more likely searching for phrases like “career change at 40,” “how to find a meaningful job,” or “get unstuck in my career” than “follow my dreams.” Step 4. Show how you can help them get what they want These professional women don’t just want “dreams.” They want clarity, confidence, and an actionable plan to shift into work that lights them up and pays the bills. Step 5. Align testimonials Instead of posting a generic “she helped me follow my dreams,” a stronger testimonial would read something like: “I went from dreading Mondays to launching a consulting business I love. She gave me the tools to make the leap with confidence.” And you could get a testimonial like that by asking a successful client, “What’s changed in your life after working with me? Where were you before and where are you now?” That leads the client into formulating something much more substantial than, “She helped me so much.” Are you ready for the revamped marketing message/elevator pitch? Instead of “I help people follow their dreams,” it’s now… “I help professional women in their 40s who feel stuck in unfulfilling careers gain the clarity and confidence to pivot into work they love without sacrificing income or starting from scratch.” Hear the difference? Now we know exactly who can benefit. There’s no mistaking it and anyone thinking of giving this life coach a referral knows who she’s looking to work with. Those few simple words transform the original vague promise into something specific, problem-solving, and benefits driven. And that means people hearing it and reading it will know when they are the target audience. READ MORE: Are You Accidentally Repelling Perfect Customers? Fast-Track Trust: How to Win Customers Quickly Helping Customers Move Past "Let Me Think About It" ------------------------- Christina Metcalf is a writer and women’s speaker who believes in the power of story. She works with small businesses, chambers of commerce, and business professionals who want to make an impression and grow a loyal customer/member base. She is the author of The Glinda Principle , rediscovering the magic within. _______________________________________ Facebook: @tellyourstorygetemtalking Instagram: @christinametcalfauthor LinkedIn: @christinagsmith
