Are You Nipping Innovation in the Bud?

Before discussing innovation, I thought it would help to re-share my favorite Peter Drucker quote:

“Because the purpose of business is to create a customer, the business enterprise has two–and only two–basic functions: marketing and innovation. Marketing and innovation produce results; all the rest are costs.”

So if we can agree with Mr. Drucker that innovation is a critical component to success, we should do everything possible to foster and encourage it. Shouldn’t we? But too often, we don’t. Listed below are  20 Phrases That Kill Ideas and Innovation.  You might be seasoned enough to remember Deputy Barney Fife’s advice for putting a stop to undesirable behaviors when he would say:  “You’ve got to nip it in the bud.”  

The Top 20 Innovation Nipping Statements

How many times in the course of your day or week are you guilty of nipping innovation in the bud?  Do you find yourself uttering any of these Nip It phrases? They each start with “That’s a good idea, but…”

1.  It’s against company policy
2.  It’s not practical
3.  It’s not necessary
4.  We don’t have the resources
5.  It will cost too much
6.  We’ve never done it that way before
7.  Our customers (clients, patients, guests, clients or even vendors) won’t like it
8.  It needs more study
9.  It’s not part of your job
10.  Let’s do some research first
11.  Let’s sit on it for a while
12.  That’s not our problem
13.  The boss won’t go for it
14.  The old timers won’t use it
15.  It’s too hard to administer
16.  Why hasn’t someone else suggested it before?
17.  Let’s form a committee
18.  We should wait until the economy improves
19.  Who else has tried it?
20.  Is it best practice?

Are any of these in your business vernacular?  How recently have you uttered any of them? What happens when you take an idea and nip it? You prevent it from ever blossoming and eventually bearing fruit.  As soon as the word “but” leaves your lips, you’re about to prune your innovation tree.  So when you catch yourself beginning to utter any of these phrases, take Barney’s advice.  Take your idea-killing thought and nip it. You and your business will be better for it!