Magic Phrase #12. To explore radical ideas.

16 Sept 2025 · 1 min

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1:16

In this instructional segment, the speaker urges managers to resist the instinct to immediately reject unconventional or seemingly impossible proposals. Instead of dismissing such ideas, he recommends responding with the phrase, “That sounds interesting. How could we make it work?” and then listening attentively. By exploring the idea through discussion, managers may uncover hidden value or creative solutions that would otherwise be missed. The speaker acknowledges that some ideas will remain unworkable, but emphasizes that many radical concepts contain a germ of innovation that can be unlocked through open‑minded inquiry.

Chapters

The next time somebody comes to you with a crazy idea, it's creative, it's bizarre, it's absurd, but obviously can't work, and you can immediately see several things that are wrong with it, don't shoot it down straight away. It's very easy for you to do. You're experienced, you're intelligent, you're busy, you don't want to be distracted with this, so you say, no, that won't work, and let me tell you why, and you're quite firm about that. Well, instead, I'm suggesting you use this phrase. That sounds interesting. How could we make it work? And then you shut up and listen. And as they talk and you bounce the idea around, you'll start to see some merit in that idea, maybe. Perhaps it's unsavable, perhaps it's just not workable at all, but very often crazy ideas have a germ of something in them which can be really creative and effective. And most managers are too quick to dismiss Really creative ideas, radical ideas, and they see some obvious flaws with it and they put it straight down. But if you explore the idea, if you kick it around, discuss it, you can often come up with a very creative, innovative solution. So the next time somebody comes to you with that sort of crazy idea, swallow and then say, That sounds interesting. How could we make it work?