Brilliant Ideas

Years ago the suggestion boxes were common tools in the companies to receive suggestions, complaints and ideas from customers and employees. Current technology, however, became obsolete such suggestion boxes that are being replaced by systems 'online' idea management.

These new systems, in addition to receiving ideas, offer employees the opportunity to comment and vote on other suggestions and realize how much their employers care about them and are willing to hear what they have to say. Often they have a new perspective, even brilliant ideas that may not have been considered by senior management.

For example, Pricewaterhouse Coopers, global professional services firm based in London, launched a website management ideas that generated 3,300 new ideas. Although less than 200 of these ideas have been implemented so far, those who have been put in place have saved hundreds of thousands of dollars for the company.

The fact is that employees often know best the company's products and processes that external consultants, although most organizations never have contemplated solicit ideas from its staff. In the past the 'quality circles' and other strategies, empower companies to relate ideas and perceptions of people working in their 'trenches', which dealt directly with machinery, established systems and practices that were under evaluation. Who better to offer useful ideas than the people who actually do the work everyday?

In the Bible we find many statements about the value and importance of seeking wise counsel. Proverbs 12:15 teaches, 'A fool's way seems right to him, but a wise man listens to advice.' If we are willing to receive and carefully consider the opinions offered, even those at lower levels of the workforce, will demonstrate wisdom.

Another verse firms the issue even more vigorously: 'With no guidelines the nation falls; what saves her is to have many advisors' (Proverbs 11:14). This principle is so important to a company as for a nation. And to ensure we do not forget this recommendation, Proverbs 15:22 says it slightly differently: 'Plans fail for lack of counsel, but are successful with many advisers.'

In many organizations the advice of an external consultant are more valued than the ideas of your team members. I do not want to minimize the potential contributions of a consultant, because as 'foreigner' it has the advantage of considering the situation with impartiality and an objective perspective.

But I strongly recommend that you take advantage of the collective wisdom of the staff of the company. If done in an accessible manner and open the opportunity for each employee present their 'brilliant ideas', much money will be saved and important changes and improvements will occur both in productivity and profitability of the company. Try it!

Boxx, R. (9 October 2013). Ideias Brilhantes. Obtained from Igreja de Nova Vida Campo Belo: http://www.novavidacampobelo.com/ideias-brilhantes/