Modern Mentor

How to get your ideas truly heard at work

Episode Summary

Ever feel like your ideas get ignored while someone else says the same thing and gets immediate buy-in? It’s not about speaking louder—it’s about how you position your idea. Here’s how to get people to listen—and act—on what you have to say.

Episode Notes

Modern Mentor is hosted by Rachel Cooke. A transcript is available at Simplecast.

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Episode Transcription

Hey, it’s Rachel Cooke, your Modern Mentor! I’m the founder of Lead Above Noise, where we help leaders activate performance and engagement without burning out. Whether it’s bootcamps, keynotes, or Pulse Checks, we help teams achieve meaningful change. If that’s what your organization needs, reach out!

OK, so today’s episode is gonna be about getting your ideas really heard by the right people. But it’s gonna start with Ruth. My dog. The love of my life and the bane of my existence.

Because here’s the thing. I’m not a dog person. Or, I wasn’t. Until my children managed to crack my soul open. See here’s what happened.

My kiddos always wanted a dog. And I was a firm “no.” I held my position for years. Until one day, out of nowhere, they got together and hit me with a literal slideshow presenting their case. It touched on the power of teamwork (as in they would work together to care for a dog); of responsibility, of physical activity.

My girls had researched local vets and dog walkers. In other words, they made it kind of a no -brainer for me. They found my motivation. They got ahead of some of the questions they knew I’d have.

Did they manipulate me? Maybe a little. But ultimately, they were smart. Just don’t ask me who takes care of the dog today. We can’t win ‘em all.

My kids stumbled onto the right formula for getting their idea heard, truly, by me.

How often at work do we just throw out ideas, expecting them to land, without really thinking about how to position them to get a yes? That’s what we’re talking about today—how to make sure your ideas actually get heard and acted on. Let’s get into it.

Know your audience

My kids were in love with the idea of getting a dog. For them it was about something to snuggle, to boss around, to show off to their friends.

And yet, if you’d watched the slideshow they prepared for me, you’d have heard all about teamwork and responsibility and physical activity because they knew those are all values I hold. And I was clearly the one who needed convincing.

So for you. And your idea. Know what you love about it and stay true to that. But also think long and hard and in advance about whose support or endorsement or permission you need.

What’s top of mind for them? What problems or challenges keep them up at night? What opportunities do they strive to capitalize on? What are they frustrated by or bored with? What have you seen captivate them? Hold their attention?

This isn’t about manipulation. It’s about choosing your positioning wisely.

Often our ideas get overlooked because the key decision-makers just haven’t been convinced.

Maybe you’re imagining a new product feature. It’s cool, it’s digital, it’s something you know your friends would respond well to.

Before you make the pitch - pause and ask yourself - how does this address something that’s been on the minds of senior execs at work? Are they looking to close a profit gap? To attract a younger market? Consider how to build this in before you start the pitch.

Strip out the risk

People don’t resist new ideas because they’re bad. They resist them because they sound risky, complicated, or like extra work. The trick? Make your idea feel easy and low-risk.

For my kids, it was some of the upfront homework they did - finding care and vets and food. Because they know the last thing I need is more work on my plate.

Maybe for you…

Use “pilot” language. Instead of saying, “Let’s change this process,” say, “What if we tested a small version of this first?”
Tie it to what’s already working. Instead of making it sound brand new (which triggers resistance), connect it to something the team is already doing well: “We already do X really effectively—what if we applied that approach here?”
Make it about them. People engage with ideas that solve their problems. Instead of pitching your idea as an abstract improvement, say, “This could save us time on Y,” or “This would make your workflow easier because…”

Tell a story

My kids knew my resistance was largely about the inconvenience of having a dog. Of not being able to spontaneously leave all day and having to manage vet appointments. And yeah, they’d done some research to address those points.

But also? They showed me some absurdly amazing (no I was not crying!!) videos of dogs being reunited with their owners after being lost. Because they knew they needed to hook me on an emotional level.

People don’t remember data points or facts—they remember stories. If you want your idea to land, attach it to a compelling story that resonates with your audience.

Here’s how:

Make it personal. Instead of jumping straight to your solution, start with a real scenario: “Last quarter, we lost a key client because of X. What if we could change that?”
Make it visual. People process stories better when they can picture them. Use a quick analogy: “Imagine if we handled our internal requests the way a great restaurant manages service—fast, clear, and seamless.”
Tie it to a shared experience. If everyone in the room has struggled with something, bring it up: “We all know how frustrating it is when [common pain point] happens. What if we tried [solution] instead?”

Try this instead: Instead of “We should automate this process,” say, “Imagine if booking a meeting room was as easy as ordering an Uber. That’s the kind of simplicity we could create here.”

4: Close with action

Even if people love your idea in the moment, they’ll forget about it as soon as the meeting ends. That’s why follow-up is key.

Did I mention my kids had found the breed they wanted, and presented me with contact information? Ugh…those kids.

Here’s how to keep your idea moving without feeling pushy:

Casually reference it in future conversations. “Hey, I’ve been thinking more about that idea—here’s one way we could test it.”
Get an early champion. Before a big meeting, run your idea by someone who can back you up in the discussion.
Offer to take the first step. If people hesitate, say, “I can put together a quick draft to get us started.” Once momentum starts, they’ll be more engaged.

Try this instead: Instead of waiting for someone to pick up your idea, follow up with a concrete next step: “I looked into this a bit more, and here’s a simple way we could start.”

If you’ve been frustrated by your ideas getting overlooked, give this approach a try. You’ll be surprised how much more traction you get when you frame things differently.

And if your team could use support in communicating ideas effectively, engaging in real problem-solving, or driving meaningful change—reach out to me at LeadAboveNoise.com. Whether it’s a bootcamp, a keynote, or a Pulse Check, I’d love to help.

Join me next week for another great episode of Modern Mentor. Until then, visit my website at leadabovenoise.com, and follow Modern Mentor on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen. Thanks so much for tuning in, and have a successful week!