How do you react to a new idea?
Yikes! We're in some uncharted territory right now, aren't we?
So it's going to be very useful for all of us to be open to new ideas. Especially those of us in the hospitality business. And even more especially for independent hotels and resorts competing with big brands and their big loyalty clubs.
Innovation and creativity have always been important, but now they're critical.
Your reaction to thinking and ideas that may make you uncomfortable is going to be a key to success. From investing in marketing when occupancy and revenues are down, to innovative compensation approaches for your partners, to looking at different marketing communications channels, to employing creativity that is a bit more aggressive and edgy than you're used to, be open to it.
Which means your first reaction to an idea that you or anybody else has should not be "well we can't do that because . . . "
The most important thing to consider - and consider first - is whether or not doing something can potentially benefit you. If the answer is "No," then drop it and forget about it. Nothing to see here folks, just move along.
Ah, but if there's a potential benefit for the short, medium or long term, you work out how to do it. It's a simple process, really:
1. Here's an idea. Can it be good for us?
Yes. Do it.
No. Forget it.
2. So the answer is "Yes." Are there any issues with carrying it out?
Nope. We're good. Let's get to it.
Yes. So let's figure it out.
3. Did we figure it out?
Yes. Cool. Let's do it.
No. OK, we'll keep thinking.
4. Did we figure out a solution this time?
Yes. Great.
No. Oh well, there are more ideas where that came from.
This is not to say that every idea has value. Or that every idea will be easy to carry out. It's just that you ought to think first about whether or not an idea can provide some benefit before you dismiss it out of hand.
If it will, then figure out how to do it.
When your first thought is why something won't work, you're starting from a negative place. And nothing good ever comes from a negative place.
We've quoted George Lois before, but here it is again. "Creativity can solve almost any problem. The creative act, the defeat of habit by originality, overcomes everything."
If something is worth doing, it's worth figuring out how to do it.
