“We’re open to ideas.”
It sounds welcoming. But in the meeting, the first suggestion is answered with a list of reasons it will not work.
By the next meeting, fewer ideas are offered.
Inviting input requires a response people can learn from. Ask what problem the idea addresses. Explore what would have to be true for it to work. If it cannot move forward, explain why.
Not every suggestion should become a project. People can still see that their thinking received a fair hearing.
When someone offers an idea, does your response make them more or less likely to speak up again?
