A significant amount of my time as a leader was spent evaluating proposals from staff. Each involved investing some amount of corporate resources to achieve an outcome the proposer felt would move the company forward.
And if I didn’t accept the proposal? On occasion, I would get highly critical feedback that I simply wasn’t listening. Which, admittedly, bothered me as I work hard to ensure I listen to all perspectives.
So, what could I have done better?
Advice for the Manager
Invest the time to explain why you didn’t adopt their proposal. And, do it in a way that shows you understood their key points.
I’ve also found that people assume saying no to a proposal meant you felt it had no merit. That’s often not true. While the proposal might have been virtuous, it could be competing for resources with other virtuous propositions. If that is the case, take the time to ensure the proposer understands their proposition is not being dismissed because it wasn’t a good idea.
If none of that works, politely end the discussion and move on. Some people simply can’t accept a no – you must not have been listening or understood their key points – and will keep the conversation alive far longer than it should be.
Advice for the Proposer
If the manager doesn’t explain why your proposal wasn’t adopted, ask why. Doing so turns the failure into a learning experience and demonstrates a growth mentality. And, from time to time, the explanation might reveal a misunderstanding or missed context that leads to a different outcome.
If you still think the decision was wrong, then what? I’m not a fan of revisiting a decision unless circumstances have somehow changed or you feel very strongly the decision will hurt the company. If either of those situations apply, tactfully ask for the decision to be reconsidered and explain why.