Page 220 - Free the Idea Monkey

DEAL WITH THE BRILLIANT NAYSAYER
“What if Harold doesn’t approve?”
And with these five words, discussion of a potentially brilliant

idea comes to a screeching halt.
Most every company has a

Harold (or Harriet). Typically, he has
been with the company for 20-plus
years. He knows more about indus-
try norms, the company’s intellec-
tual property, interoffice politics
and the CEO’s family than anyone
in the building.

And, unfortunately for you, good old Harold can effortlessly—and
with absolutely no intended malice—recite four to six reasons why
your idea won’t fly. He’ll tick down a veto list that may include
chemical theory, union issues, patent law, an MIT-funded research
study from the 1940s and two similar ideas that failed in 1985.

Everyone loves Harold. He’s charming, remembers everyone’s
birthday and is willing to lend a hand. But at times, everyone also
hates Harold because at a brainstorming session he is, unwittingly,
at his worst.

He will sit with his arms folded and jaw clenched and wince at just
about every idea. He’ll often say things like: “I am trying to be really
open-minded here, but ... ” and eventually the air will leave the room
as Harold explains in detail why the idea in question won’t work.

His heart is pure. He isn’t objecting for the sake of objecting.
In his mind, “somebody has to keep failure from happening around
here,” and that somebody is him.

“Named must your fear
be before banish it you can.”

— Yoda

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