–Below is a leadership bullet from Tom’s rifle named Shot–
THAT DOG WON’T HUNT! I have been on a hunt with a dog that seemed to have great fun romping around without being useful. That dog was a distraction. I wanted to shoot the dog.
Some ideas are stupid. They won’t hunt. Leaders often have good ideas—one reason why they are leaders. But how are leaders to know when their ideas are off base? Who is going to speak up and tell a leader that he/she has a dumb idea…that should be shot? A foolhardy follower, perhaps. Or, just maybe the leader has prepared the team for such an eventuality and something can smartly be done. Encouragement to debate (even appointment to do so) helps. Leaders holding an idea until others are presented is another approach. Indeed, an environment of collaboration and brainstorming goes a long way. One more suggestion: Reward challenges. This action, especially, shows the leader values good ideas over subservience.