My team suggests ideas during our strategic planning meetings that are not the best or most efficient solutions. How do I give them feedback without destroying their creativity or enthusiasm?

Many directors, CEOs and entrepreneurs think that they know best in their organization due to the seniority of their positions. So, make sure you are not turning their ideas away because of your ego. Also, it’s easy to subconsciously skip recognizing the employees and jump to picking holes in the ideas. When your mind is processing the ideas and thinking of what’s wrong, you can have an annoyed face without knowing. Avoid a reaction like, “This idea won’t work because of…” It sends a destructive message that puts people down. If you find a problem with an idea, don’t state it, but lead them to it. This is how you train your employees to think on their own. For example, consider saying, “That’s good thinking. Do you expect any operational productivity overload as a result of implementing your suggested idea?” If they say yes, ask them what they suggest to solve the challenge.

In general, be careful about your tone. Thank them for their effort and for their creative input and ask them to keep coming up with ideas especially when you won’t implement or develop their ideas for whatever reason. As Socrates once said, “It’s not what you say, it’s how you say it”…and that’s just my two cents.

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• two cents: oh, idea! oh, another idea!
• two cents: a party with no customers
• two cents: team of me

People in this market are lazy. We invite customers and consumers to attend our products launches but they don’t show up. What can we do to get some attention?

We all read about the same boring corporate releases about a product launch or a new promo event. We all see the pictures that accompany these articles. You know, the ones with some executive management cutting a ribbon, pulling a fabric away to reveal the product, or my favorite, using flashing lights and smoke machines. Hurray! And we wonder why customers lose interest in attending or why the press is not eager about the event! How can anyone get energized about such events, seriously?

The first step towards exciting the public to attend an event is to have an exciting event. Let go of all the used and abused ideas. Get creative. If you don’t know how, ask a group of some newly hired young employees – even if they were from different departments – to create a taskforce and brainstorm for the launch. Fresh minds can add great value. This is a good alternative if you can’t hire a professional event management company – underline the word ‘professional’. The second step to increase attendance is to create interest and excitement in the way you promote the event and in the way you invite your audience. If you’re not excited about it, why should they? How do you know if you’re coming up with different ideas? If whatever concept you come with has been done before, it should be left alone…and that’s just my two cents.read what others have read

• two cents: saying no without the ‘no’ part
• two cents: no country for old bankers
• two cents: to care or not to care