Skip to main content

A healthy team gives the potential for life to every idea. Every idea has a chance to live. Initially, there are no bad ideas. 

Healthy teams don’t contain a built in idea killer. And if there is one they aren’t allowed to remain so for long.

Ideas need a chance to breathe. They need to be stretched and prodded and examined.

The best ideas sometimes come from what started as a seemingly really bad idea. Genius ideas are often killed before they have a chance to develop into their greatness.

That’s why healthy teams have freedom and regularly:

  • Brainstorm
  • Analyze
  • Test drive
  • Push back
  • Critique
  • Debate
  • Challenge
  • Collaborate
  • Dialogue
  • Listen
  • Discuss

Every. Single. Idea. Given a chance for life on a healthy team. 

Healthy teams remain open-minded about an idea until it’s proven to be a bad idea.

It doesn’t have to be a long process. It could be a short process.

But healthy teams give every idea a chance to live.

That is because healthy teams know there is value in the collection of ideas on a team.

As a leader, one of my favorite things to say things like, “I love it”. “Thanks for thinking outside the box.” “You might be on to something.” “Lets give it a try.” “That’s great, so run don’t walk to make it happen.” 

Leader, next time your team gets together open the floor of discussion to ideas. Ask a few good questions to start the dialogue. Let everyone put ALL their ideas on the table, with no fear of embarrassment or retribution. Watch for collective brilliance to develop .

Have you ever worked with an idea killer? How did it impact the team?

Nate and I have launched a new season of the Ron Edmondson Leadership Podcast. Subscribe now so you don’t miss the next one.

Ron Edmondson

Author Ron Edmondson

More posts by Ron Edmondson

Comment (1)

Loading... Logging you in...
  • Logged in as

The Top 10 Leadership Posts I Read The Week Of January 25th | Brian Dodd on Leadership

[…] The Life Of An Idea On A Healthy Team by Ron Edmondson […]

Post a new comment

Comments by