When your team members come up with ideas for new products or services, or new ways of carrying out work, they may meet with resistance from various individuals in the group or organization. Some may insist that the new idea is too risky or too expensive, for example. Others might drag their feet when it comes time to put the new idea into action.

To ensure that their good ideas get implemented, your team members need to understand the types and causes of resistance they may encounter when promoting a new idea. Then they must craft strategies for overcoming resistance, including understanding what’s causing the resistance and selecting the right strategy for combating it.

Use these resources to lead a discussion with your team about what kinds of resistance they can expect to a new idea they’re promoting, and how to overcome it.
Note: Consider inviting all your team members to the discussion — not just those who are working on innovative ideas. Those who are working on new ideas can gather suggestions from others on how to combat resistance. Those who aren't currently working on ideas can learn by watching the others develop their strategies.

Working through the discussion guide can take up to 45 minutes. If you prefer a shorter 15- or 30-minute session, you may want to focus only on those concepts and activities most relevant to your situation.