• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Great Leadership by Dan
  • Blog
  • Popular
  • Recent
  • About
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Blog
  • Popular
  • Recent
  • About
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Twitter
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Blog
    • Popular
    • Recent
    • About
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Twitter
  • ×

    You are here Home » creativity

    Put a Little Air in the Balloon

    Last updated on Oct 14, 2013 by Dan McCarthy · This post may contain affiliate links

    I
    heard the following simple but powerful little lesson from a Fortune 500
    executive last week:

    As a leader, if you want to create a culture of
    innovation, you need to create an environment where all employees feel
    encouraged to bring new ideas forward.

    That’s easier said than done.

    Instead, here’s what usually happens when someone comes
    up with a new idea....

    Imagine that new idea as a balloon, about half full of
    air. When someone presents that balloon in a meeting, what’s the first thing
    we usually reach for?

    Pins!

    Pins in the form of statements or hard-to-answer
    questions like “that won’t work here”, “we already tried that”, “it’s too
    expensive”, “that’s too farfetched”, “yeah, but…”, “did you do a 3 year rate of
    return analysis?”, and other balloon-popping reactions.

    Pretty soon that balloon is leaking air, and it spins
    around and crashes to the ground or just blows up with one loud pop.

    Instead, what if every leader viewed their role as
    “adding air to the balloons”?

    Instead of pulling out our pins in the form of “yeah
    buts”, we add air to the idea in the form of “yes, ands”, and “what ifs”?

    Instead of immediately rushing to assessment and
    judgment, we pause to consider the possibilities?

    Sure, at the end of the day, the balloon still might pop,
    but at least we’ve given it a chance to get off the ground for everyone to see
    and consider it.

    Leaders who want to encourage innovation are always
    trying to put “air in the balloons”. Give it a try.

    « Are you a Trusted Leader?
    Rev Up Your Leadership with OIL Method »
    AFTER ENTRY

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Primary Sidebar

    dan-mccarthy-great-leadership-by-dan

    About Dan

    Dan is an expert in leadership and management development. For over 20 years Dan has helped thousands of leaders and aspiring leaders improve their leadership capabilities. Read More

    ebook-dan-mccarthy

    Trending:

    • Top 12 Development Goals for Leaders
    • How to Write a Great Individual Development Plan (IDP)
    • 25 Great Leadership Development Quotes
    • The Performance and Potential Matrix (9 Box Model) – an Update

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    • Home
    • About
    • Contact

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2022

    • Disclosure
    • Privacy Policy