Beat fear: Get your ideas out there!
For all the gusto Generation Y shows towards change, I still see an astounding number of great ideas stifled by fear. Fear that others will think an idea is a bad one, fear that an idea will fail, even just plain fear that one’s own ideas are not good enough.
This kind of fear to act on independent ideas in the workplace is exactly what holds so many people back from achieving their career growth goals.
We as a generation can foster fearlessness and aggressive growth, here are a few suggestions to get you started:
1. Start small – Try even the smallest of your ideas out first. Is there some little process everyone at work does that you know could be done better? Bring it up and take action on it! For example, I do my best to get the committees and groups I am in to use our company wiki to manage meeting minutes and other notes, it saves time and email churn. Little things like this help you to gain confidence in your ability to change and improve the work environment you are in and they prepare you for bigger changes.
2. Don’t always listen to the experts – Blasphemy! I know we are always taught to respect our elders and the authorities but, if we always listened to the experts, would we ever innovate? No! So when you are thinking creatively to solve problems, heed the advice of the experts but challenge it every chance you get!
3. Find allies - For your first big change you will need others to help you push it, build up some support by finding others who like your idea, give good feedback and will help you as you push things forwards.
Finally, you need a thick skin to drive change. Many will try to derail your efforts because frankly, some people are afraid of change or it’s just too much work. This quote from Theodore Roosevelt helps keep me going when faced with these obstacles to change:
“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.” – Theodore Roosevelt
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Good Post. I think this is relevant to us all in varying degrees. Fear is a barrier that can seriously prevent you from getting where you want to go in your career and life in general. Sometimes small steps don’t help you win that battle. It may mean taking on a huge problem or skiing down an incredibly steep slope and failing for the smaller stuff to seem more manageable. This also gives you a very good understanding of where your weaknesses are as well. If you can’t bring yourself to do that though, small steps are a good way to start.
Also, it seems most creativity does come from a new innovation of old ideas. I know I’m terrible with coming up with brand new things on my own. Sometimes by going out and seeking several experts and understanding how things have been done in the past you can grow that into something new. That’s a good way to start if you tend to feel that coming up with something completely new seems like too big of a road block.
One of my favorite things about my new job is the fact that I am constantly challenged to innovate and address challenges in a new manner. I’m no expert in the industry I work in, but my boss cares more about me thinking than always being right. No matter what, I’m always learning — and on the few occasions I come up with a better idea, I feel like I have truly triumphed.
Roosevelt’s quote, by the way, is awesome — thanks for sharing that.
Brandon-
I think that taking notes with the wiki is a great idea. Have you or the people on your team tried to really promote the tool around the company? Aside from people in my business finding the link to it– they don’t really grasp the concept. Maybe I can partner with you to fully understand the tool (and make sure it’s company wide, not business specific) and promote it. Taking notes on a Wiki is a GREAT idea.
These are three great ideas and I think you are exactly right– some GEN Y Professionals are afraid.
I would love to hear some success stories from our readers on this.
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