Our society gives a lot of lip service to thinking outside of the box—so much, in fact, that the very phrase has become a cliché. And there's a good reason: As Paul Williams notes in a recent post at our Daily Fix blog, innovative ideas have the power to transform your business.

But does your company truly encourage creative thought? Or is an unorthodox suggestion more likely to be met with pessimistic discouragement? If you hear reactions like these in strategic meetings, your company culture is actually stifling innovation:

• "Good luck getting that done!"
• "We don't have time for something like that."
• "Doesn't work. Trust me, we tried that years ago."

Not only do naysayers make colleagues feel stupid, they discourage the brainstorming that can lead to great outcomes. Remember, says Williams, "Ninety-nine percent of innovative ideas aren't simply blurted out in their final form. They need development to reveal their full potential."

By changing the "yeah, but …" response to an "and, if …" you foster an environment that's receptive to innovation. At worst, the idea goes nowhere and you're out a few minutes of time. And at best, the idea evolves into a groundbreaking opportunity.

The Po!nt: Especially in these competitive times, it's a mistake to discourage innovative thinking. Give your team members the room to think out loud, and expect great results.

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