Honoring ideas

From HMCwiki

Honoring ideas is an art that ought not be limited to the East.

When you honor an idea, you honor its creator. The mere fact that someone is willing to participate in a change is an honorable thing. It says, “Here is what I have and maybe it will help”. It declares, “This is me and this is the best I have for now”. It whispers, “This did something for me and it might do the same for you”.

An idea is often connected to the person’s core, so be careful not to bruise it. It has a short expiration date that can die of neglect. Something as little as genuine appreciation can keep it alive. Break its trust and it may never produce another idea again. For it is painful to be rejected.

If managers only saw its power, its prevalence, its potential, its personhood; they would receive each idea as a jeweled gift. And do everything to turn it into reality. For in doing so, the manager opens up fifty more ideas over the course of the creator’s tenure. Acknowledgement proclaims, “What you think is important”. It gives hope to the next idea. It has a ripple effect on those around it.

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