We’ve all been there—great idea in hand, excitement pumping new life into the daily grind… then the naysayer steps out of the shadows, throwing elbows and blocking shots. Where once there was life in the party, suddenly all the air has been sucked out of the room, and dread sets in.
Your idea has merit and is important. You know it’s the right thing to do. But the force of resistance is great. What to do? The answer lies within the DNA of the surrounding culture and understanding how to navigate it.
Some organizations thrive on confrontation and they foster an environment where conflict is the normal modus operandi. In these situations, a little Rocky theme music in the headphones and thick skin are needed to go toe-to-toe directly with the roadblock. If the idea is good enough, the decision makers here want to see your perseverance. If it’s really worth approving, a good show of commitment will be needed and blockages will need well-presented counterpoints.
Other conflicts may be associated with a lack of ownership. Where to get approval on a great idea if there is no clear champion to help? Here’s where your community-building skills will be needed. Forming a coalition of like-minded people and building support with those directly and indirectly involved can go a long way in advancing your cause when no single point of authority exists. Clearly articulating what’s in it for others and appealing to the collective good is essential to win the hearts and minds of those who can help win approval.
Maybe the roadblock is due to a lack of understanding among those influencing the outcome. Extra time and effort to educate these individuals and clarify the business value for them upfront with a strong formal business case is required. Sometimes when we have a great idea, we want to run right into the solution because it’s so obvious to us. But if there are no followers, we need to slow down and invest the time and effort into bringing others along for the journey, especially when the value is not readily apparent to those removed from the details.
This is not an exhaustive list and we know there are all sorts of factors that can give pause to progress. The main point in all of this is to try. Don’t give up on pursuing the right solution, accounting for input from others, and leading the change needed. Pay attention to the culture of decision-making and adjust to work within its boundaries to effectively get your message across. This may fly in the face of efficiency at times, but sometimes we need to look around, take account of what’s in our way, and take the time to properly deal with the blockers. While not even the greatest can hit every shot all the time, the best study the defense and figure out a way to break through. Over time, experience adds depth to our capabilities as we face blockers and strive to overcome them.
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