People + Process = Performance

10 Excuses to New Ideas For Improving Performance and Safety At Work

Have you ever brought up a new idea at work only to have it “shot down” before you could explain the reasoning and benefits of doing something different?  Or have you been the person who has “shot down” the new ideas?  Chances are we’ve had experience doing both.   Oftentimes we are very quick to put down new ideas because of our bias that new ideas mean more work with a less than certain outcome.  Based upon my experience in working for companies as an employee or as a consultant here the top 10 responses to new ideas that happen but shouldn’t.  Read the list and ask yourself are you saying the right thing or the wrong thing to new ideas to improve performance and safety at work?

1.  “We’ve tried it before…”

We tried it (or something very similar) and it didn’t work.  Instead of dismissing it out of hand have your considered what lessons were learned? Have there been changes to your organization and/or industry since that time that may make it worthwhile to consider again?  Have there been changes to technologies and/or new gizmos that make the idea better and easier to accomplish?  Key point:  Don’t dismiss it because it is similar to something that was tried and did not work. Consider it with a new mind and new eyes.

2.  “That sounds interesting but…’

That sounds interesting but there are too many things wrong with it to make it even worth considering.  This is typical way to politely give the idea and person a denial.  It doesn’t matter the exact words that you say before the word “but” because what you say afterwards is what will crush the idea and possibly dissuade the person from bringing another idea forward.   This is one way to stifle innovation and brain storming of new ideas within your organization.

3. “What is the Return on Investment?”

What’s the ROI?  Have you done a cost benefit analysis?  Immediately jumping to the financial return with a new idea is not the right thing to do.  New ideas need time to determine if it meets a organizational need and/or a customer need.  An effective way to proceed with new ideas is to do a small pilot study to see how the people (employees and/or customers) react and to see the effects on the work process.  The spreadsheet and data will come allowing proper analysis.

4. “It’s not in the budget…”

It wasn’t included in the budget so we can’t do it.  Really??  If it truly is a good idea that solves the problem(s) then so what if it wasn’t in the budget?  Chances are the outcome will easily cover the initial investment.  Do you really want a good idea to sit moth-balled for 12 months until it could be included in the budget?  How much is it costly you to NOT do it?

5. “I think it’s a great idea but Department A (or director A) will never agree to it…”

You love the idea, think it’s great but you immediately think it will fail because of a certain group or person.  In my opinion you are dismissing your responsibility to truly vet the idea and to bring it forward to those within your organization that you may not always see eye to eye.  Blaming Operations, EHS, HR, Financial, IT, … groups is not a valid reason.  If it is a great idea it will flow through the organization on its own merits.  If it is a far-reaching idea it will run into opposition inside the organization at some stage but that isn’t a good reason to shot down the idea immediately.

6. “It will slow production…”

We can’t do this idea as it will impact our production capacity.  Is this fact or fiction?  I must say that I make of point of ensuring every idea/solution that I come up with will at least maintain if not improve production levels.  That’s not to say that production may be impacted for a short time during implementation, i.e. changes to the process.  Don’t dismiss new ideas that on first impression would seem to slow production.  You may be pleasantly surprised to find that the new idea speeds up production and improves quality.

7. “It is too difficult.”

It would be much too difficult for our organization to do.   If there is a clear customer and/or organizational need then the difficulties and challenges are there to be broken down.  It’s time to consider different ways of doing things to overcome the obstacles.

8. “We don’t have time.”

We don’t have time.  My plate, all of plates, are overflowing.  This is probably one of the most common ones I hear.  Organizations are operating as lean as they can.  All of us are very busy, working hard and putting in extra hours to get the job done.  Everyone can say that, however, a good idea is worth the time to explore it.  We need to find and/or make the time.  Sometimes new ideas force us to look at how we work and in doing so, we find out how much time we are actually wasting on doing our current tasks.  Don’t assume it’s best to do today and basically forget about tomorrow.  Your competitors are just as busy but are they making time for new ideas of doing things.  If you are standing still, don’t be surprised to be passed by.

9.  “We’ve always done it this way.”

We’ve always done it this way.  The way we do things works just fine, thank you.  If only I had a dollar for every time I’ve heard those 6 words, “We’ve always done it this way”, I’d be living on an island and enjoying the beach.  Just because you’ve always done things this way doesn’t mean “this way” is the best or right way”.  It just means it is the way you or your fellow colleagues have taught you to do them.  This is one of the top two ways new ideas are shot down and disregarded.

Which brings us to the second of the top two ways new ideas are shot down…

10.  “That will never work here.”

That idea is something we’ve never done, never considered (and won’t consider) and it just won’t work here so don’t bother to bring this up again.  I think people and organization sell themselves short in immediately dismissing ideas because they think it will never work here.  They think management and/or the employees won’t buy into the idea and/or they don’t have the capability/talent/skills to do what the idea requires.  I’d like ask, “how do you know if you’ve never tried?  You’d be surprised on what can and will work it you lay the right foundation for implementation and follow through processes in place to sustain the idea.

In closing, what should you say when you hear a new idea, novel suggestion or proposal? I’d suggest asking questions instead of trying to find an excuse to dismiss it out of hand.  Good questions to ask would be:  “How would it work?”  “Who would need it?”  “How could we do it?” Listen and build on the idea.  It might be rejected but at least give it a fair hearing first. Entertain the possibilities… and don’t kill it immediately with one of the excuses above.