Idea having

Thinking of an idea (ie a possible course of action) and then communicating it.

There are two distinct phases to having an idea. First, you have to think of it and, secondly, you have to say it. Unfortunately, there are many people who think of ideas but, for various reasons, don’t voice them. Often they fear ridicule or a rebuttal. At other times they lack the skills of assertion (see Assertiveness) and sometimes the gestation period is too long and the moment has passed. Producing off-the top-of-the-head ideas (see Creative thinking) is particularly difficult for many people, especially those who feel vulnerable, unless they have had time to prepare their idea carefully before offering it.

An idea is a possible course of action. If, for example, you said ‘It’s 11 o’clock. Let’s have a break for coffee’, that would be an idea. If, however, you said, ‘It’s 11 o’clock’, that would not be an idea. It would only be a piece of information. If you said, ‘It’s 11 o’clock. People often have a cup of coffee at this time’, that would not be an idea either because it doesn’t contain a sufficiently explicit course of action. Admittedly, the action is heavily implied and most people would take the hint, but the point is that, strictly speaking, ideas have to be explicit. Innuendoes and hints do not count.

There are two different ways to voice an idea. You can propose it or suggest it. Proposed ideas are always statements such as, ‘It’s 11 o’clock. We shall break for coffee’. Suggestions are always questions such as, ‘Its 11 o’clock; shall we break for coffee?’

Remarkably, this subtle difference in the way an idea is put makes a significant difference to the response. The facts are that if you propose an idea, four times out of ten someone will take issue with it by pointing out snags and difficulties. If, on the other hand, you suggest an idea, four times out of ten someone will agree with it. The actual figures are:

These data clearly indicate that ‘suggesting’, the more involving way of idea-having, is far more likely to win support. Despite this, most people persist in proposing their ideas at least twice as often as they suggest them!

If you aren’t very good at thinking of ideas, try using other people’s ideas as a springboard for your own. You can do this in a couple of ways. Whenever someone voices an idea, ie a possible course of action, analyse it by asking yourself ‘What is wrong with that?’ When you have thought of a snag, either think of an alternative idea that overcomes the snag, or think of an addition to the other person’s idea that improves it and overcomes the snag you have identified.

The latter alternative is preferable, because it is more likely to be seen as constructive and thus win support. However, both tactics are ways of using other people’s ideas as a stimulus for producing ideas yourself.

Idea-having is the best antidote to the common problem of going round in circles.