Before you make a costly bad decision at work, you want to test your new ideas. This process exposes potential problems at a time when enthusiasm may have you otherwise blind to the risks.
This is also a smart team engagement exercise that can lead to more successful innovation. Enjoy these actionable tips in the latest episode of our Productivity at Work series.
What Productivity Questions Does This Video Answer?
- How do you test your new ideas?
- What can you do make sure you don’t make a costly bad decision at work?
- How to make sure a new idea will work?
- How can you promote innovation in your team?
Video Transcript for Test New Ideas
Ever have a great idea that just doesn’t work? Let’s prevent that. New ideas can energize an organization but sometimes they might be a little too complex. Complexity can lead to problems that can be hard for them to be executed. And the result is not good. So let’s think about a process you can put a new idea to the test.
First can things can be easily explained? Usually, the more complicated something is, the longer it takes to explain.
Can you boil it down to a sentence or two, so people can easily understand what you’re trying to do? Think about how will this idea, be implemented.
Is it a situation where five different pieces of software have to be used in order to get one result? Now, the process may be fine but just a little too complicated a little too time consuming. So is there one system that could do all five of those jobs?
This is an important thing to think about when something’s in the idea process because implementing it may just be too complicated if you’ve got to use five different things.
Finally, is your team able to implement the idea? They may be great, but they may be lacking a little bit of knowledge or know how.
So do you need to bring in some coaching, get them some more education, to help them implement the idea? Think of a symphony. The conductor may be great, but the members of the symphony don’t know how to play the instruments very well. The music will not sound all that good.
New ideas are great, but test them first, in the idea phase, to make sure they can be successfully implemented.
About Ken Okel
As a motivational keynote speaker, Ken Okel works with leaders and organizations to boost productivity, performance, and profits. At conferences, conventions, and company meetings, he engages audiences with new ways to maximize their time at work. To see a sample of his corporate and association keynote and breakout presentations, visit his video page.
