The Right Way to Suggest a Big Change at Work -The Muse

The Right Way to Suggest a Big Change at Work -The MuseThe Right Way to Suggest a Big Change at Work Everyone wants to be that person- the one who looks at the same information as everyone else, but who binnensees a fresh, innovative solution. However, it takes more than simply having a good idea. How you share it is as important as the suggestion itself. Why? Because writing a new script- literally or figuratively- means that other team members will have to adapt to something new. So whether youre suggesting a (seemingly) benign change like streamlining outdated protocol, or a bigger change like adding an hour to each workday so people can leave early on Fridays, youre asking others to reimagine their workflow or schedule. leid to mention, if the process your scrapping is one someone else suggested, theres the possibility of hurt feelings.To gain buy-in on an innovative, new idea, follow these eight steps1. Be a SalesmanGreat ideas dont stand alone. In other words, you cant mention your suggestion once and expect it to be adopted. To see a change, youll need to champion your plan and sell its merits. In addition, you need to be willing to stand up to scrutiny and criticism and be prepared to explain your innovation in different ways for various audiences.2. Give it TimeSo, you want to clearly and fully explain your thinking, but then you need to give people time for consideration. Creative genius could strike at any time, but implementation can take months or even years- as was the case with hand washing and sterilization in hospitals. 3. Use ChannelsSometimes it makes sense to go to your boss first. But other times, its useful to build a coalition among your co-workers or other stakeholders. When it works, it works great- because youre ready for your stubborn supervisors pushback with answers like, Actually, I connected with a few people in our tech department to discuss how much time these kinds of website updates would take, and they suggested they have the bandwidth. However, just be certain you can explain your end-around approach as one that built your case, rather than simply circumvented your manager. The last thing you want is for your boss to feel embarrassed he wasnt informed- which could lead him to quash the idea before it even takes off.4. Be HumbleOne of the biggest barriers to gaining buy-in occurs when the owner of an idea is viewed as argumentative, defensive, or close-minded. Because, lets be honest No one likes a know-it-all. So, if people disagree with you, dont be indignant. Instead, listen to their concerns fully, try to understand their perspective, and include their concerns (and possible remedies) in future discussions.So, instead of saying, Martha, our current slogan is confusing and should be updated, you could try, Martha raises a great point that our current slogan has a long history for our stakeholders, but I wonder if we might able to brainstorm a tagline that could build on that- and be clearer for new c ustomers.5. Dont Mistake Disagreement for Personal RejectionYes, it can hurt when you present a brilliant suggestion and are shot down. It can feel territorial, even personal. However, unless you have a sworn mortal enemy in your office, someone rejecting your idea probably isnt meant as a personal attack. Getting too attached and having it become my idea pulls focus from what your innovation really is- a suggestion that will better things for the entire team, company, or project. Dont let ownership prevent you from listening to valid concerns and criticism. 6. Expect (and Invite) ResistanceAnother reason to really engage with the naysayers? New ideas can only be adopted as quickly as the culture of the organization will allow them. Innovations often represent change or a new, unfamiliar paradigm. So, explore peoples dissent and disagreement- thats part of helping them learn to accept change.7. Respect the Past, But Dont Get Stuck ThereNew ideas are the grandchildren of old ones. In other words, dont throw old solutions under the bus to make your improvement stand out. Remember that in light of whatever the problem the old system solved- or, maybe, has failed to solve in recent memory- it was a great idea at the time. Appreciating the older contributions as you suggest future innovations helps bolster the credibility of your idea. 8. Stay PositiveWhen pitching a new idea, its important use the language of abundance instead of the language of deficit. Instead of saying what is wrong, broken, or suboptimal, talk about what is right, fixable, or ideal. For example, try, I can see lots of applications for this new approach rather than, This innovation is the only way. Be optimistic but realistic, and you will stand out.There is rarely value in pointing out a problem without also offering a solution. Innovation isnt seeing the problem, it is being able to see a viable solution to the issue. So, use the steps above to pitch your new idea- they should help you overco me the barriers to buy-in so that people will be on board and excited.Photo of team meeting courtesy of Shutterstock.