3 Ways to (Nicely) Handle a Bad Idea

3 Ways to (Nicely) Handle a Bad Idea3 Ways to (Nicely) Handle a Bad IdeaTheres nothing better than when someone on your team comes up with a great idea. But unfortunately, we cant all have strokes of genius all the time- and eventually, some duds are guaranteed to make their way to the amtsstube whiteboard or Monday morning meeting.While it may seem obvious to you when a suggestion should be sent directly to the circular file, its not necessarily quite so clear to the person sharing it. But, when youre managing a project or a team, you cant always just say that. How you respond to lousy ideas can have a significant impact on peoples future performance, not to mention morale and general office harmony.Fortunately, there are a few tips Ive found useful when youre handed a disaster of an idea to avoid shattering your colleagues self esteem- and maybe even yield better ideas in the process.1. Ask For ClarificationSometimes, the best way to get an idea that just isnt workable off the tabl e is to highlight its flaws. If youre given a particularly legless proposal, ask your colleague to explain in more detail how she would address the areas where you feel the plan is lacking.Heres a fictional example (although I actually kind of love this idea) Lets say a colleague suggests that everyone in the office should be mandated to eat bacon for breakfast every day as a way of ensuring the team has enough protein and wont be hungry at 10 AM. But you know several employees that have heart conditions, not to mention some vegans, and a few individuals that dont eat pork for religious reasons. Sadly, bacon just isnt going to work.But rather than simply blurting out that her idea is ridiculous, you could ask her to provide more detail, letting her share how she would address all those in the office who have dietary restrictions.When you ask someone to think through the holes in her proposal, she may come to the realization herself that her idea might need some work, and gracefully withdraw it to do a bit more research.2. Pretend Its Your Only OptionThis is a tougher approach, but it also has the potential to transform a crummy idea into a great one Before making a judgment on an idea, try to see if you can make it work.Why? When were forced to accept a certain outcome, we naturally switch to problem-solving mode, which often leads to some pretty creative solutions. Plus, inspiration comes from all kinds of different places, so chances are, somewhere in that lousy idea, theres some nugget of a good idea just waiting to be found.Considering the idea from above, pretend that the bacon solution is your only option. How can you make bacon work? Turkey bacon? Vegan bacon? Offering a variety of other protein-packed breakfast choices for your employees?By switching gears a bit, and talking through how to make a bad idea work, you just might find that a great idea develops. And if not, your colleague will at least know you made a real attempt to collaborate and develo p her idea, rather than just shooting it down from the start.3. Put Yourself In Her ShoesOf course, there are some ideas that youll just have to veto. In this case, one of the most important reminders I give myself before handing out feedback is to consider how the other person might feel when receiving it. Try remembering how you felt when someone shot down one of your ideas- you can probably think of a few ways the bearer of bad news couldve delivered the message with a little less sting, right?Phrase your comments in a way that will take into consideration any sensitivities your colleague may have (e.g., did you reject the last four ideas shes had on this topic already?), and deliver your message with empathy.By taking into account how she might hear your feedback, your message will likely be much better received.That said, dont sugar coat it- you dont want her to feel youre giving any special treatment. My tried and true method is to start by identifying the merits of the idea f irst, then point out where it needs work, taking care to be constructive, not critical. brde but not least, always close with a positive word- you want her to keep tryingThe best way to generate great ideas is to cultivate an environment in which everyone feels like his or her ideas have a fair shake. Not every idea will be the next best thing, but follow these steps, and youll ensure your colleagues keep trying. And who knows? You just might find that diamond in the rough in the processPhoto of signs courtesy ofShutterstock.