A person can have the great idea, but if that person cannot convince a number of people: the idea dies.
Good ideas do die. Good ideas must have good advocates. Good advocacy and good idea makes an idea live.
Ideas need advocates like humans need oxygen.
The Leader as Communicator
The Leader’s #1 job as a communicator: to discover why people believe the things they do.
Wife says “I don’t like this type of movie.” Husband says “Yes you do.” Wife learns: he is an idiot.
Wife says “I don’t like this type of movie.” Husband says “I understand you don’t like this type of movie. What type of movies do you like? What do they have in common? What do you feel when you see those movies? What do you feel when you watch this movie?”. Wife shares. Husband learns.
Proving to somebody that they are wrong is not going to lead them to say “thank you for helping me identify the error of my ways”. Proving to someone that they were lazy is not going to lead them to take decisive action. Proving to someone that they were stupid is not going to lead them to score well on the exam or do a great job on the report.
“Why does this person think he is right?”
The most important question: Why does this person think he is right?
Everyone who states a position, takes an action – believes that it serves a positive purpose, whether conscious or unconsciously. Everyone has good reasons. Your job is to uncover their reasons. You may not see them as good reasons, but they are reason enough for that other person. You can only help them change if you start from where they start.
Your Question to keep Ideas Alive
Positions are the what. Interests are the why. If someone resists: Why do they hold this position? What benefit are they getting emotionally, strategically, personally, financially that makes them want to hold this position?
Find a way to show that the new idea can give them the same or more benefit.
Don’t try to prove them wrong.