Leaders Encourage Ideas

Posted on February 22, 2011 by Norman Yeager, One of Thousands of Life Coaches on Noomii.

Leaders are expected, in most contexts, to be in the forefront when it comes to generating ideas the team will use to reach the set goals. So the Leader takes the time to think of ideas, winnow out the bad ones, and select the best one. Then the Leader makes up the road map for making the idea into reality. After all the work the Leader takes the idea or ideas to the team meeting. Now is where it can be harrowing for the Leader.

Why can this be harrowing for the Leader? First, the team may outright reject the idea. Second, they may make adjustments to the idea. Both of these team reactions may cause the Leader to become defensive. It appears to the Leader that the idea is rejected or torn apart with no regard for the time or thought put into it. Another factor that may enter in is the fear of conflict. These, factors however, are often the means for getting to the best ideas.

While the Leader needs to lead by spending the time and energy required to bring ideas to the team, yet the Leader does not own the monopoly on the best idea, or even the good ideas. Out of conflict the best idea or ideas the best ones are born. Remember when speaking of conflict we are not speaking of attacks on team members, we are speaking of the lively discussion of the idea or ideas the team may generate.

Leaders play a major role in creating a climate where the best idea will rise to the top. The Leader can encourage people to think for themselves by promoting idea they have for process improvement. This is done in informal meetings with the person, or even in weekly review sessions. The Leader may ask the person to bring up the idea at the next team meeting, or incorporate it into the life of the team without a formal meeting about it. This encouragement validates the person and enables further ideas.
Leaders, in team meetings, can encourage all members to participate in the discussion of the idea. Positive remarks about the contribution will encourage further participation during the current team meeting or future ones.

Active listening also encourages the production of the best ideas. In active listening, the Leader echoes back to the speaker the thoughts being presented. This is not a rote speaking back the points being made. It is an active paraphrase that includes key words to let the speaker know the communication is received.
This encouragement to think of and generate ideas will make the team meetings more productive. The good conflict will bring for the best possible ideas. So the Leader in these sessions will bring together the best ideas or solutions raised. Not only can this bring up the best ways to face the competition, but promote each team member as a part of the team. This will make for a better team which will continue to be productive. It becomes the Leader to use these tools in the life of the team. Leaders encourage ideas.