John Edwards, Technology Journalist & AuthorMay 7, 20255 Min ReadWavebreak Media Premium via Alamy Stock PhotoYour IT team is most likely smart, productive, and efficient. These staffers are on the front line, relentlessly addressing challenges and solving problems. They may also have many good ideas for improving performance or taking a new approach to a persistent problem. Unfortunately, these ideas may never be heard by IT decision-makers for various reasons, such as a fear of ruffling feathers or being ignored. The key to great idea generation is fostering an enterprise culture that encourages curiosity, continuous learning, and operating with a high sense of urgency, says John Kreul, CIO at insurance firm Jewelers Mutual. "Encourage team members to develop a deep understanding of the customer, plus end-to-end business knowledge, which triggers continuous improvement and disruptive ideas," he explains in an online discussion. "We promote cross-functional collaboration so technology professionals can gain fresh perspectives from business teams while also sharing and proposing innovative solutions that reshape how we work together and advance the customer experience," he says. Encouraging team members to propose valuable ideas starts with building a culture of open communication and trust, says John Russo, vice president of healthcare technology solutions at healthcare software development firm OSP Labs. "As an IT leader, creating a space where brainstorming is welcomed -- without fear of criticism -- is key," he advises in an email interview. Regular innovation sessions, where team members feel comfortable sharing ideas, can make a huge difference, Russo notes. "It's also important to actively listen and acknowledge every contribution, reinforcing that all voices matter." Related:Russo says this approach works because it fosters a sense of ownership and belonging. "When people feel heard and respected, they're more likely to share creative solutions that drive real innovation," he explains. "It also brings in diverse perspectives, which can lead to more effective problem-solving." Recognition and showing appreciation are the key to developing continual forward-thinking actions, Kreul says. "At Jewelers Mutual, we celebrate accomplishments through personal connections, team, and company-wide recognition of achievements, as well as professional development and award opportunities." Compassionate Rejection Practices Not every idea can be implemented, but rejections should never discourage future proposals, Russo advises. "The key is constructive feedback -- explaining why an idea isn't feasible at the moment while appreciating the effort behind it." Offering suggestions for refining the idea or keeping it on the radar for future needs keeps the conversation positive and productive, he adds. Related:When brainstorming collectively, IT leaders must ensure that their team knows that an idea generation exercise is a safe place for them to propose their thoughts and that it's a judgment-free zone, says Karishma Bhatnagar, product manager at freelance talent provider Upwork. "Without this basic understanding and environment, it's really hard for team members to open up and share their thoughts," she explains in an email interview. Once a session has been completed, the leader should be clear on why a particular idea has been rejected or deferred. "Budget, resources, and time constraints can be used to reject ideas so that the rejection isn’t taken personally by the team member," Bhatnagar notes. "The leader should also explicitly share that they appreciate the effort all team members have put into proposing and generating ideas although, at that this time, only a handful will be explored further." Avoiding Leadership Mistakes Leaders can unintentionally discourage idea-sharing by shutting down proposals too quickly, being overly critical, or simply by failing to follow through on good ideas. "If team members feel their ideas disappear into a void, they’ll eventually stop sharing them," Russo says. Related:IT leaders can also inadvertently discourage idea proposals if they aren't careful in the way they deal with the rejection of ideas, or if they don't provide ... a respectful time, place and platform for the team members to share their ideas, Bhatnagar says. "Not ensuring that team members have the opportunity to share and be heard will lead to the team feeling too discouraged to share their idea proposals." Last Thoughts: Empower the Team Technology innovation is not just about technology -- it’s about people, culture, and fostering a mindset of continuous improvement and disruptive ideas that create personalized experiences and value for our customers, Kreul says. "Technology leaders can enhance team performance and achieve business goals by empowering cross-discipline teams to generate ideas and empower them to act -- trust your team to do what is best." Above all, IT leaders should remind their teams that innovation is an ongoing process, Russo says. "Even ideas that don’t take off immediately can spark breakthroughs down the road," he explains. "By celebrating experimentation, learning from failures, and consistently reinforcing the value of new ideas, leaders can create an environment where creativity thrives." About the AuthorJohn EdwardsTechnology Journalist & AuthorJohn Edwards is a veteran business technology journalist. His work has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, and numerous business and technology publications, including Computerworld, CFO Magazine, IBM Data Management Magazine, RFID Journal, and Electronic Design. He has also written columns for The Economist's Business Intelligence Unit and PricewaterhouseCoopers' Communications Direct. John has authored several books on business technology topics. His work began appearing online as early as 1983. Throughout the 1980s and 90s, he wrote daily news and feature articles for both the CompuServe and Prodigy online services. His "Behind the Screens" commentaries made him the world's first known professional blogger.See more from John EdwardsReportsMore ReportsNever Miss a Beat: Get a snapshot of the issues affecting the IT industry straight to your inbox.SIGN-UPYou May Also Like