Build a Support System for New Ideas
Why your best ideas need protection before they need feedback
by Anton Zemlyanoy | ArticlesNew ideas are often fragile. Not formed into a specific shape. Unable to answer questions about why, for whom, or for what exactly. All the questions that can be very useful in helping ideas take shape, but when asked too early, or with too much impatience, or with excess cynicism — they can destroy the idea they are supposed to strengthen.
So when an idea is fresh, we need to protect it. Not necessarily from malicious intent, but from unaware bypassers who can accidentally damage it, simply because they haven’t noticed how disproportionately heavy their approach is to the young idea.
We do this for young trees. We create supportive and protective structures to help the tree mature. We don’t say “Well, if the tree has enough potential, if the tree is a sound idea, it will grow by itself without any support.” No, we recognise that there is a time for supporting the tree until it is strong enough. We can accidentally bump into an adolescent tree and it won't be affected. Apply that same force to a tree that's just starting to grow — and we will damage it, sometimes irreversibly.
I have a dear friend with whom we both agreed that I would no longer share brand-new ideas with him that cannot yet withstand his rational, fact-based, somewhat sceptical questioning. Because it is not what the idea needs at that stage. For example, when I wanted to record video interviews for a past passion-project, his first response was: “But you are not an interviewer!”. And he was partially right. But as a result, some of my energy was diverted towards processing his view — his established concept of me — rather than focusing on what I wanted to create. He was right that I wasn’t an interviewer, because I never formally interviewed. Just like I wasn't a runner until I started running. Like I wasn’t a coach until I started coaching. Like I wasn’t a father until I… well, until I became a parent.
That same friend, however, is an ideal person to go to when I need a brutally honest opinion about what may not work in any idea. Because he will tell me exactly what he thinks and I can practice defending, or strengthening, whatever I’m working on. So we agreed that I will share with him when whatever I’m working on only when it is strong enough to take his sceptical questioning.
Here is my invitation:
When you’re thinking of starting anything new, think in advance where your ideas could use supportive structures.
A structure could consist of people who can see the potential in a seed. People who understand that seeds need time to grow, that seeds need the right conditions to grow in. A structure could be a course. Or it could be a book. Or an internal agreement with yourself. Or any combination of the above. Make it work for you.
Just remember that a seed needs to be planted, needs the right nourishment and it needs time.
Read more articlesAbout the author
Anton Zemlyanoy is an executive coach who helps leaders navigate change with clarity and self-trust, turning self-talk into a leadership strength.
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