Communications of the ACM
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Five Ways to Get People to Buy Into Your Idea At Work
There are ways of getting others to listen to your ideas.
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When you have what you think is a great idea, how do you get the ear of senior colleagues without ruffling feathers? Here's how to get people on your side.
- Demonstrate the benefits: "Maybe even make prototypes," says Thierry Martin at Toyota Motors Europe. "Show people how easy it is. "
- Draw on your fresh perspective: Smart companies recognize that great ideas can bubble up from any level. "Modern leadership . . . is about being open to different viewpoints," says Andy Moore at Bentley Motors.
- Listen to what the business wants: A nice idea "has to be working and useful for the business itself," says Sue Walker at RWE.
- Be prepared to reframe your question: "Take the higher ground . . . and say, 'What problem are we trying to solve here?,'" says Bev White at Nash Squared.
- Work for someone who'll listen: Freshpet has an inherently collaborative environment, says director Lisa Diehl. "Our CEO . . . [will] come by and say, 'Hey, what's going on?'"
From ZDNET
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