Naysayers to Yaysayershow to create champions for innovative ideas

Show me a successful innovator and I will show you someone who has

lived through

rejection…

…emotional ups and downs…

…and the disappointment of

being ignored.

Glowing images associated with

innovationconvey the

impression thatthe process

unfolds painlessly...

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…but the reality of implementation can be quite different.

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On the road to implementation there will likely

be resisters.

Here are 5 tips

for transforming these

NAYSAYERS into

YAYSAYERS.

1.

Recognize that resistance is natural.

Throughout history, even the best ideas have encountered opposition. Proposed changes to the status quo will likely be dismissed or ridiculed by someone; such reactions probably say more about the naysayer than the value of your idea.

2.

Resisters can be part of the solution.

Naysayers can contribute to a better solutionif they have an opportunity to understand your challenges and develop a personal stake in the outcome. Support for an idea will take on a “life of its own” if these new champions extend their influence to help your cause.

3.

Frame your pitch in their terms.

Lesson from Negotiation 101: always finda way to express your idea as something that is in their interest. Also, research indicates that decision makers typically seek to avoid loss, so highlight the consequences of saying no in their terms.

4.

Work though the resistance; don’t try to fight it.

It’s important to see the transformation of naysayers as a digestive process, rather a force-feeding event. This means developing trust and understanding over a period of time, instead of relying on one airtight case to gain support.

5.

Expect ups and downs.

Instead of being surprised and dauntedby this naturally bumpy process, it’s helpful to remember that non-linear progress is normal. A mental “You are here” image is a realistic way to deal with temporary setbacks on this journey.

You may be here.

Sharon VanderKaay Farrow Partnership Architects www.farrowpartnership.com

A Final Note:

In daily practice, we oftenobserve staunch naysayers begin to champion ideas that they initially rejected.

What seems to shift their opinion is a spirit of shared learning and co-evolution. This approach to building mutual trust is more effective than pushing unilateral arguments aimed at buy-in.