AVOIDING KNEE-JERK REJECTION


Some people automatically reject new ideas or feedback. It doesn’t matter what the idea is, it gets rebuffed. This is a version of the “not invented here” syndrome.

People who have been around awhile may be quick to say, “We’ve already tried that and it didn’t work.” It’s not a considered rejection of the idea so much as a reflex. Even if they have already tried something, maybe times have changed or there’s a different way to do it that will be successful. Being too quick to say “It won’t work” shuts them off from exploring the idea and supporting continuous improvement.

A leader’s “knee-jerk rejection” of ideas may just be a poor habit a follower can work around until the leader unlearns the habit. Like any habit, it takes time to shake. If we know a leader is prone to knee-jerk rejection we can try a “delayed response” tactic:

Briefly air our observations and recommendations with the leader.

Quickly, without engaging in extended dialogue, ask the leader “to think about it” so that the issue can be further discussed at a later point.

Even if the leader’s automatic rejection mechanism triggers, ask the leader to “still think about it.”

Don’t ask for and don’t accept an immediate response or decision.

We shouldn’t be surprised if the leader raises the issue with us again and displays openness to our ideas once he has given them some thought. By getting out of his face, we let an internal dialogue occur that seems to shift the “win-lose” framework from which he originally viewed our suggestion or request. Reflection replaces reflex. And we can raise the issue again if the leader doesn’t, often with success.

Followers who find themselves too quick to reject ideas or feedback can use the same tool. Instead of disagreeing we can say, “Let me think about that.” If we really do think about it, we often find something in the idea we can use.




The Courageous Follower. Standing Up to & for Our Leaders
The Courageous Follower: Standing Up to and for Our Leaders (2nd Edition)
ISBN: 157675247X
EAN: 2147483647
Year: 2003
Pages: 158
Authors: Ira Chaleff

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