Management Tip of the Day: Don't Pursue a Doomed Idea

Are you having trouble viewing this email? If so, click here to see it in a web browser. HOME   |   TIPS   |   BLOGS   |   THE MAGAZINE   |   BOOKS   |   STORE RSS   |   Mobile AUGUST 27, 2012 Don't Pursue a Doomed Idea When it comes to innovation, irrationality can be a blessing. Many a great decision has resulted from people taking risks that didn't make logical sense at the time. But irrationality can also blind innovators to real problems. Here are three ways to seek the right amount of reason: Find a devil's advocate. Look for someone who can poke holes in your thinking and point out when you're being dangerously irrational. Test your hypotheses. Turn your proclamations into experiments. Use them to check your logic. Make resources scarce. An abundance of time, money, or people should accelerate innovation, but it often does the opposite. Set early deadlines, consciously constrain funding, and keep teams lean to pressure-test your idea before you get too far down the road. Today's Management Tip was adapted from "In Praise of Irrational Innovators" by Scott Anthony. Read the full post and join the discussion » Share Today's Tip: FEATURED PRODUCT Harvard ManageMentor Full Access Harvard ManageMentor Managers face countless challenges every day that require immediate solutions and demand a wide range of skills. Build, broaden and refresh your management skills with this comprehensive online resource that addresses your most critical management challenges. Includes 44 individual modules, each with practical advice and immediately applicable tools for dealing with specific management issues. One-year single user license. ADVERTISEMENT Follow the Tip: PREVIOUS TIPS Take Off Your Headphones See the Big Picture Before Making a Decision Win the Pitch Handle Both Kinds of Conflict Take Mini Email Vacations Every Day Stop Wasting Your Boss's Time Let Employees Tell Their Own Stories about Change Change Your Culture a Few Behaviors at a Time Apply the Right Kind of Pressure to Innovators Create Raving Fans for Your Idea All Previous Tips BEST SELLERS HBR's 10 Must Reads: The Essentials HBR's Must Reads Library Set Guide to Persuasive Presentations Guide to Better Business Writing Guide to Getting the Right Work Done Introducing HBR's Morning Advantage The Harvard Business Review Morning Advantage delivers the latest business ideas from beyond HBR.org directly to your inbox every morning — and it is free! Sign up today >> UNSUBSCRIBE   |   UPDATE YOUR PROFILE   |   MORE EMAIL NEWSLETTERS   |   PRIVACY POLICY Was this email forwarded to you? If so, sign up to start receiving your own copy. ABOUT THIS MAILING LIST You have received this message because you subscribed to the "Management Tip of the Day" email newsletter from Harvard Business Review. If at any point you wish to remove yourself from this list, change your email address, or sign up for other email newsletters and alerts, please visit the Harvard Business Review Email Newsletter Preference Center. OPT OUT If you do not wish to receive any email messages from Harvard Business Review, click here. ADVERTISE WITH HBR This enewsletter is read by thousands of decision makers every day. Learn more about connecting your brand with this audience. Copyright © 2012 Harvard Business School Publishing, an affiliate of Harvard Business School. All rights reserved. Harvard Business Publishing | 60 Harvard Way | Boston, MA 02163 Customer Service: 800-545-7685 (+1-617-783-7600 outside the U.S. and Canada)