Idea Killers to overcome
A new idea is delicate. It can be killed by a sneer or a yawn; it can be stabbed to death by a quip, and worried to death by a frown on someone’s brow. Learn about typical comments and rejections and have planned responses or proactively deal with them in your pitch.
by Dave Savage – dave@davesavage.com 404 323-8686
A new idea is delicate. It can be killed by a sneer or a yawn; it can be stabbed to death by a quip, and worried to death by a frown on someone’s brow. Learn about typical comments and rejections and have planned responses or proactively deal with them in your pitch.
by Dave Savage – dave@davesavage.com 404 323-8686
It doesn't grab me.
They'll never buy it. You're not paid to think. You're new, aren't you? It doesn't fit into our system. Get your priorities straight. That's not your problem. |
Don't make waves.
It just doesn't grab me. Who's going to do it? It's been done to death. It's not up to our standards. You gotta be kidding. It'll turn everybody off. Are you going to pay for it? |
t's not our style.
It sounds too simple. It sounds too complicated. Don't fight city hall. Sounds crazy to me. So, what else is new? We will discuss it sometime. |
We'll think about it when we have time.
We can't afford it until business picks up. If we wanted your opinion, we'd ask. This is a business, not a charity. I know what the customer wants. What school taught you to think like that? |
You don't really mean that do you?
We've never done anything like that. Give that idea to our competitors. We have a chain of command around here. How in the world did you come up with that? If you have to explain it, it's too complicated. |
If your supervisor didn't like it, just forget it.
You haven't thought of every angle, have you?
Wait a few months until the boss gets to know you.
If it was a good idea, someone else would have done it by now.
Are you telling me you're more creative then our professional staff?
It's not a good idea until the boss thinks of it first.
Someone tried something like it before, with poor results.
It requires training, which our turnover doesn't justify.
The last guy who asked about it isn't here anymore.
The owner only accepts ideas from people richer them himself
Any idea that a fired employee had, just annoys the boss now.
Didn't you know there is a recession going on now?
Don't bring me ideas that don't involve your department.
We don't have to provide that service until the competition does
I'll work on it when I have time. Don't mention it again.
Don't rock the boat; you're likely to get tossed overboard.
This is a family business. Are you part of the family?
There is a pecking order around here, your position and ideas have the same importance.
Did you see what happened at the last meeting, when someone mentioned that?
Giving the boss an idea = telling him how to run his business.
I've built this business to $x,xxx,xxx a year. What are you trying to tell me?
This is my business, I can do whatever I want with it.
When you grow up, you’ll understand what I’m telling you.
You haven't thought of every angle, have you?
Wait a few months until the boss gets to know you.
If it was a good idea, someone else would have done it by now.
Are you telling me you're more creative then our professional staff?
It's not a good idea until the boss thinks of it first.
Someone tried something like it before, with poor results.
It requires training, which our turnover doesn't justify.
The last guy who asked about it isn't here anymore.
The owner only accepts ideas from people richer them himself
Any idea that a fired employee had, just annoys the boss now.
Didn't you know there is a recession going on now?
Don't bring me ideas that don't involve your department.
We don't have to provide that service until the competition does
I'll work on it when I have time. Don't mention it again.
Don't rock the boat; you're likely to get tossed overboard.
This is a family business. Are you part of the family?
There is a pecking order around here, your position and ideas have the same importance.
Did you see what happened at the last meeting, when someone mentioned that?
Giving the boss an idea = telling him how to run his business.
I've built this business to $x,xxx,xxx a year. What are you trying to tell me?
This is my business, I can do whatever I want with it.
When you grow up, you’ll understand what I’m telling you.