Here is another valuable Management Tip of the Day from Harvard Business Review. To sign up for a free subscription to any/all HBR newsletters, please click here.
One of the most effective tactics for killing a good idea is to instill fear in the minds of those who need to approve it.
In business, a common fear-mongering argument is that a proposal is somehow “against our core values” and will erode the spirit and foundation of the company.
If this kind of accusation is aimed at your idea, resist becoming defensive. A simple retort is unlikely to soothe the fears that this kind of attack raises.
Instead, acknowledge that values are important and explain specifically how your idea is indeed in line with what the company stands for.
Today’s Management Tip was adapted from “Turning the Tables on a Fear-Mongering Attack” by John Kotter.
To read that article and join the discussion, please click here.