Big Question: OMG I'm Stuck!!

This months Big Question is about Stuck?Getting Unstuck? Stuck, is exactly how I feel, and the reason I started blogging and connecting with people. My blog becomes a forum to get my ideas out. So there's the problem and the solution right there! But come on now, don't we all feel stuck at different points in our work or even personal life? Well, being stuck is very much a reality as anything else, and I've felt this way many times before. Each place I worked posed different kinds of challenges, but to get to the point, here we're talking about being stuck in your organization with a lot of great ideas about how to improve things around you and the service you deliver to the customer.

There are several reasons why one gets 'stuck' so to say:

• Your organization is just very happy doing what they always have been doing as it earns them money anyway.
• Your team members, who drive a lot of the initiatives because they've been around longer than you, just don't know what's changed in the market outside. They're fine to keep doing what they always did in the last 8 to 10 years cos the management is happy!
• Sometimes employees see or hear whats changing but completely fail to see the value in it.
• Sometimes employees just feel more secure doing 'proven stuff' than exploring new possibilities.
• Some employees respect the management so much, that they will wait until the end of time for the management to initiate something new. "Why get your hands dirty in trying something the management hasn't even figured out? This is easier."
• Some people listen very intently to the people who give new ideas and tell them, "Yeah, that sounds really cool, and right too. But you know what, this is the way they do it here. I've been around here really long and I know, nothing will change!"
• Sometimes your team leads and managers may tell you after hearing your bright ideas—"All that's fine, but what happened to that issue we had the other day? You better figure out or we'll miss the deadline!" or simply—"Haven't you enough to do?"

The Result?
Imagine the plight of the poor bloke who just had this brainwave after reading loads of blogs, wikis and cool discussions on the Internet. Depressing really! But that's the reality, and it will probably remain this way in almost all organizations, but with varied levels of intensity. I'm sure, at least two of the above points will be true for any employee unless he's the boss and takes the decisions.

The employee, who was once really excited with his brilliant idea and imagined what value it could have brought to the organization, is demotivated, and begins to think that he or she is not going to get anywhere in the present organization. The employee starts questioning himself—what happens to my future and career? What happens to my dream? Will I stop learning if I continue to remain in this environment? Should I leave this place and try somewhere else, somewhere where people have more sense to see the value in my ideas? Or should I just surrender to the circumstances and become a drone like the rest?

The Point?
So, the implementation of all ideas on last month's Big Question, about Workplace Learning in 10 years, are immensely dependent on the organization's willingness to invest and bring in change, not forgetting that change only comes in gradually and never upfront in such cases. It takes time to provide the infrastructure to support all the changes, and most importantly the people who will help bring about the change. It requires support and acceptance from everyone involved to adapt to a new way of doing their job.

So what can you do in such a situation?
Rebel and let everyone know that what you are suggesting is the next generation thing, and that they're too stupid to see it? Disclaimer here: I think you should try that only if you want to loose the one or two people who took time to listen to you and advise you! You may loose even the smallest chance of ever getting your ideas across in the organization as people will start thinking you are an arrogant, alien-headed, snob! Now that's really not the ideal situation to be in, so here are a few things you can do.

Step 1:
First, evaluate if your idea is that of immediate action or a long term one. Based on this, set your expectations of the time it may take to get it implemented. Ask questions like "Based on the business need, will they find use of the idea? Will they need it now or later?" If your answer to these questions is yes, then go ahead and plan to give your ideas to the management.

Step2:
Whatever you do, it is most important to:

• Say the right thing at the right time
• Tell the right person about it

Now you may ask, when is the right time? Who is the right person? My answer is, strike when the iron is hot, meaning speak about it in a relevant situation or discussion. Plan your idea well and back it up with what benefit it brings to an individual or the organization. It is hard to decide each case above, but you have to figure this out by studying the organization and their priorities over time, or discussing them with someone who has been around longer.

My Experience
When I had an idea, I first started asking around if there is any idea management forum in the organization. When I didn't get the information, I threw the question to one of the top managers after he gave a session on the organizations goals and how he plans to achieve them. He thought for a while and realized there wasn't any such place. He then asked me what my idea was? On explaining the idea, he seemed to like it, and asked me to send him an email with the details. He responded back after researching it himself and appreciated me for bringing it up. He now wanted to start a forum thread to collate ideas from employees. I thought that was a good start.

The other part of giving ideas is the expectation we have once we have given them. But, you need to remember here that it takes high priority to implement any idea. That's how businesses work I guess!

So to conclude, I can say that you may feel 'stuck' in spite of having given your idea, but its important that you at least got it across. The fact that not much changed immediately should not deter you from thinking and innovating. Try and innovate in your regular activities to make it more interesting. Try suggesting something new, but each time remember to back it up with sufficient evidence so people understand the context and the benefit that will come out of it. Try and blog the ideas that are not directly related to your company's benefit, and share it with the community. Let's accept it, its not a fair world we all live in. It is therefore important to make the best of every situation.