When talking shop, there’s a natural tendency to avoid the drama of confrontation by relegating all disputes to Your Mileage May Vary. If we can declare all approaches and techniques to be of value only “under certain circumstances”, then we can avoid the hard work of finding the better alternative and merely stop at different.
I don’t think this serves anyone. Well, that’s not entirely true. It supports the ego of the person proposing the bad idea. It also helps the ego of anyone who bought into it. But it doesn’t help the world move forward to hoist up every bad idea as “just another option”.
Of course, you can’t stop this from happening. Not least because people differ on what’s a bad idea. And that’s fine! There will always be different groups advocating for different things. But as individuals, we shouldn’t be afraid to impart our opinion on ideas.
Ideas are meant to be attacked, torn apart, and put back together again. You may well want to shield your idea from the harsh sunlight at first, but by the time it’s ready to meet the world, it should also be ready for rain or shine. Bad ideas are supposed to wither under the stress of criticism.
Hell, even good ideas are supposed to wither in the winter of their life. Precious few ideas are immortal, and even those should be constantly tested to ensure their hearts still beat vibrantly.
The reason we get rid of bad ideas is to make room for new ones. If your catalogue of techniques is brimming with YMMV charity cases, you’re less likely to come up with or entertain new entrants. Hoarding bad ideas that might come in handy when the full moon shines purple is just that. Hoarding.
The flow of new ideas is far more important. Throw ‘em up, bat ‘em out. Declaring “oh well, that didn’t work out like I thought” is an incredibly liberating feeling. I might even go as far as to say it’s motivating. It’s like clearing your desk or emptying your inbox. Ahh, a fresh start!
It takes a strong ego to let go of bad ideas that you originated, but rarely people will think less of you for it. Which is more than can be said of clinging endlessly to bad ideas past their due.
Brian Knapp
on 02 Jan 13I 100% agree with you. The best way to solve problems and work through ideas is to put them out there and have the discussion. Some are awesome, some are terrible. Some things are really awesome for some people and terrible for others.
My process has always been to have a lot of ideas and try them out. Keep the good, throw out the bad. You never know if you don’t try.
Thanks again for your feedback on Obvious. It really helps to get other perspectives on the things that you build, especially when they aren’t the same as your own.
Mel
on 02 Jan 13Really hard to do with large organizations, mostly because a good enough idea realized is deemed more valuable than a great idea unproven. I’ve had some success using TRIZ approach, but still I think it’s difficult: so many people to engage & convince, fragile egos, blinded by my own ego, ideas, and perspective,....
Anonymous Coward
on 02 Jan 13Nicely said David. I also agree with Mel on the point that “perfection” should not get in the way of “great”. Take two approaches where one solves some amount of immediate pain, but the superior choice will win out when the time/money is available to be worked. Approach #1 should die a valiant, egoless death.
Des
on 02 Jan 13I really like the second point, that ideas should wither in the winter of their life.
Too many smart people are hung up defending their old ideas, keeping them on life support in the hopes they find new relevance, rather than letting them go when their time comes.
There’s nothing wrong with saying “Yes, I thought that way in 2007, but I’ve now got some new ideas about that topic“
Jeff
on 02 Jan 13I’m not really a coward, I just missed the name field… I think a complimentary idea to your and Mel’s point is mentioned here: Perfectionism is a crime against humanity
Rob
on 02 Jan 13I’ve been contemplating this idea for some time now, and I must admit that you’ve chosen your words very will in the post, David. This new push for content creation has created an even worse clutter of bad information on the internet. Ambiguous ideas and opinons are the spam of the future. If you have an idea or an opinion, state it! Don’t be afraid of others disagreeing or tearing your ideas and opinons apart, this is how we grow and learn together. When I came to Miles Design as a thought leader, I realized I needed to step my game up and put my thoughts and ideas out there for others to read and respond to. The result has been just as I expected, and as you have explained in your post – my bad ideas and withered under criticism and the few good ones have shone through the clutter and been recognized.
berto
on 02 Jan 13Ideas are good, but actions beat all. Show rather than preach; then if your idea ain’t no good, its clear for yourself and everyone to see. Less convincing needed.
David Baldie
on 02 Jan 13People often feel they appear strong of character when they defend their idea to the death. Bob never goes down without a fight. A person is also strong of character when they can recognize that their idea is not the best on the table, and take it as a learning point instead of a personal failing. At least that has been my experience. Your mileage may vary.
Chris
on 02 Jan 13Thanks, now my New Year’s Resolution is to try and share more ideas. I let too many of them linger in my head and constantly wondering “what if…”
Peter Morris
on 02 Jan 13I think a friend of mine said it better, it may not be original to him. He said…
Strong Ideas, Weakly Held.
But, yes, I think you expand on it nicely.
GregT
on 02 Jan 13I miss the 4-letter words that used to be so liberally used in DHH’s posts.
Peter Morris
on 02 Jan 13Aha, talking to my friend, the quote came from http://bobsutton.typepad.com/my_weblog/2006/07/strong_opinions.html
ecbp
on 02 Jan 13It’s true, not everything is equally great, but drama and confrontation aren’t necessary for the proving process. I’d even argue conflict hurts the process; it’s very easy for the noise of the fight to get in the way of the idea. History has been pretty clear, sometimes those with the bad ideas and the sharpest elbows, win the day. But alas, even they don’t stand a chance against time.
So I say let time do it’s thing. Have some patience. Let ideas stand on their own (attacking and tearing not required). I’ve never seen drama and antagonism change someone’s mind and actually move something forward; people change their mind only if they’re open to change, and if they’re truly open, there’s no drama.
Drama and conflict are unnecessary friction; it’s a great indicator that you’re working with the wrong people. Why invite that bullshit into your life? Do your own thing, learn from others, let others learn from you, and if others disagree, godspeed. The only thing drama helps is the warrior stroke his ego from the fresh kill; if the folks involved are truly interested in the best outcome, there is no room for drama.
I’d go even further, don’t just have a strong ego to withstand attacks on your ideas, but let go of your ego completely. When you do that, suddenly everything becomes an open door.
John McGrath
on 03 Jan 13So what was the withering idea that inspired this post?
JZ
on 04 Jan 13Somehow we’ve arrived in a place where being civil means respecting ideas and opinions regardless of validity. This post reminds me of one of my favorite quotes:
“Anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that ‘my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge.‘”
― Isaac Asimov
Alex
on 04 Jan 13I like the point that things not working out is a liberating feeling, even motivating. Quite true in my experience and its relevance extends into many facets of life.
Anonymous Coward
on 04 Jan 13I completely agree!! I would add one thing that I learned from my early Industrial Design internship time. Never say, ” I don’t like it” to someone elses idea. If you want to say that you better have a reason for why it doesn’t work for the application or why you just don’t like it. As one must except constructive criticism on their concepts then one must ensure that critism is constructive. I have heard through school, internships and my past jobs way to much the answer of just “NO” or “That won’t work”. Usually that’s when I go and solve it.
This discussion is closed.