Don’t you just love it when you think strategically and come up with that great idea!  You get the idea set and then you enthusiastically run out and tell the world about your mental creation.  You are excited to explain how this idea will have such an impactful influence on your work, your business and life in general  All seems right with the world and you are feeling great!  Suddenly, your world and the excitement comes to a standstill.  In your rush to announce your thoughts, you just happen to meet up with Joe.  Joe has been around for a long time and is seen by many to have a high level of experiences in many business activities. As you explain your great idea to him, he looks firmly into your eyes and conveys those famous words, “That’s been tried before and it just won’t work!” Don’t you just love that voice of confirmation! All of a sudden, you find yourself deflated and at best humbled beyond comprehension by his less than insightful statement. You stumble to find the words but this onslaught has taken you by surprise. You never dreamed that anyone would sidetrack your effort; but, believe it or not, people do exist who will strive to please by being less than enthusiastic to those they encounter.

In the business world, there are many of these so called “long term experts” who effectively suck the very life out of any attempt to challenge the norm. They too often give the impression that their word or thoughts are the only things that guide daily effort; or, that they have seen or engaged in virtually every action under examination. Consequently, they feel they know what works and doesn’t work. In the business meeting sector, these experts are often classified as “lounge lizards.” You know, the people who prey upon the innocent and get their excitement over how their thoughts and control of the meeting produces an uncomfortable situation for all. They are the ones who brighten a room when they leave. It is indeed a shameful but real event that business professionals must face whether in the realm of a small business or in the corporate boardroom. However, there is hope. You can anticipate these remarks and be ready to convey effective responses as to the “why” and the “benefit” of moving forward with at least a trial initiative.

Here are some common resistance remarks that may fill your daily schedule as well as possible avenues of approach that you can take to help you best the “lounge lizards” and hopefully move forward with your ideas and aspirations:

1)  We’ve tried that before. Perhaps the world’s oldest comment. In this event, it is important to convey the fact that just because something was tried before does not mean that a new and improved effort will not be successful. Sometimes it is as simple as timing. Perhaps the timing is better for a current look now. Don’t immediately eliminate an opportunity simply due to prior shortfall. If that philosophy was followed, we would never have the electric light bulb, the computer, the automobile nor the airplane. Work diligently to convey the reality of the “now.”

2)  That’s not our job. The great killer when it comes to dealing with customers particularly. In a business, job responsibilities are vital, but never to the point that we fail to do what is needed to take care of customers or to address shortfalls.  Nordstrom’s Department Store Group is famous for taking back merchandise from customers even when it is not their products. Their focus is on insuring the best possible conveyance of impression possible. All parties in a business should be open to addressing actions that can be taken to insure that the most favorable conclusion is reached.

3)  Good idea: not practical.  The context of this cries, “From who’s perspective?”  You can’t always be bold in responding in this direct manner; but, you can inquire, “Please help me better understand why you feel it is not practical.” This allows you to hear the response and better understand the viewpoint. Further, after you hear the response, it allows you the opportunity to then approach the potential in a more educated manner. Most often, there can be a compromise reached as practicality is often understood from an individual viewpoint.

4)  Let’s form a committee.   This is a common response when there is little interest in immediately addressing a new idea or process. After you stop laughing internally, I hope, you will need to once again make an inquiry such as, “Please help me better understand how a committee would be appropriate?” The bigger issue is once again to see if you can find out what the “real” issue might be. Most likely it could be timing or even a thought that the announcer feels some personal lose of  control in the situation in general. Your modest confrontation will often get the issues on the table and allow you to tactfully move the issue to a more current resolution.

5)  Anyone else tried it?  Being an idea trailblazer has its challenges. In this area, you are most likely battling that idea killer called “fear” or dealing with those who simply are looking for an excuse to not forge ahead because it my cause additional work. You might also hear some comments center around the fact that if this was such a great idea, why has someone not done something like this already? This comment and excuse are often more directed at the individual problem versus the solution that has been presented. You must be brave. You must explain that this solution is quite possibly the approach that will be encountered.  Explain that you will be entering the solution with “unchartered” processes and that should be a good thing because it can foster the best knowledge of the business or organization to be utilized.  “Following” is not always a proven answer to all interactions. “Leading” can be an effective resolution. You must appeal to the excitement of new discovery and ease the fear in those around you by focusing on the learnings that will be coming forth and the teamwork that the effort will forge.  

6)  Why change?  Complacency is a great killer of mental and physical ability. It is addictive and will in the end destroy virtually everything that it contacts. This response hits directly to the heart of the complacency position. People do not like change. They resist it to the top of their physical and mental abilities. They feel safe and have adapted to a routine. This routine while perhaps not always the most efficient seems to be providing the returns they desire. This resistance remark is tough to solve but it is quite necessary to position a business for what needs to come in the future. In this area, you must clearly “sell” the vision to those around you. It will demand you build the picture you are attempting to portray and clearly communicate the value of the effort to not only the business but the impacted individuals as well. Be prepared to push your patience to the limit in this area; but, the outcome of your patience effort can provide the overall resolution needed.

Resistance will come. It is a known reality. By being able to anticipate resistance and then altering its importance by diverting it, you should be well positioned to produce an effective venue to move forward. Also be aware that there will be verifiable information that will arise through resistance interactions. Not all resistance is necessarily bad. Therefore, be prepared in those instances to take your idea back to the “drawing board” and rework it in such a manner that it hits the mark at your next attempt. Always keep in mind that the ultimate goal is to look for what can be done and not dwell on reasons why things can’t be done. Use these resistance insights to help you better address the “lounge lizards” confronting you in your business and elsewhere. Your tactful response and lighthearted interaction just may win you a convert.