What do you do if your ideas are constantly criticized and dismissed?

Ideas shot down? Understand the criticism. Refine and present with conviction. Persist, adapt, and shine brighter! Don’t let anyone dim your brilliance.

Take all the that amazing criticism and start working on improving your pitch . Anyone who tells you otherwise is complaining too.

In my experience, criticism often stems from a lack of understanding or fear of change. As a leader, it's crucial to approach feedback with curiosity and humility, using it as a catalyst for growth. By actively listening and addressing concerns, you can turn criticism into valuable insights that refine your vision and strengthen your leadership.

Knowledge is not enough! Knowledge births ideas and ideas are first refined before they become useful. The process of refining ideas requires wisdom and understanding. Wisdom gives direction but understanding takes you to your destination. Before you speak about the ideas in your brain, do these: ?? Stop! The best ideas are not launched in a rush. ?? Assess! You need to introspectively ask yourself objective questions. For instance, if someone were to sell the idea to you, would you buy it and why? ?? Align! Be sure you are selling your idea to the right people, and in the right environment. Nothing kills ideas faster than that. ?? Decode! Pay attention to the actions and inactions of people when discussing your ideas. Avoid haters!

Key here is to cultivate a growth mindset in order to embrace feedback as a tool for improvement. You’ll develop resilience by exposing yourself to constructive criticism from peers, leaders and those around you — but learning to separate personal identity from your ideas is critical to strengthening your ”case” thats backed by research + evidence — making your ideas more detailed and defensible.

Gritt is what separates the winner from the losers . You didn't quit = you didn't lose yet. Think about that before you start something , how inlove with the idea are you ? how many days ? Do you come back with answers when you hear a NO ?

Understand tone and context. There is a big difference between being in a tough and competitive environment vs a toxic one. If you think you have a lot of great ideas and everyone around you is rejecting them then you are either in the wrong place, ahead of your time, or need to revisit your ideas to understand if it is your delivery style or the content that is not resonating. Usually it takes two to tango - so being self reflective but also having thick enough skin to take criticism, rejection and be open to empathizing with different perspectives (right or wrong) is a good balance. Most importantly if you are well informed, passionate and working hard, stick with it, trust yourself and you will add value that will be recognized.

I've learned that resilience is not just about bouncing back, but also about using criticism as a catalyst for growth. As a seasoned leader I understand that it is essential to approach feedback with curiosity and humility, allowing it to refine your ideas and strengthen your resolve. Remember, true innovation often comes from challenging the status quo, and that can't happen without facing and overcoming opposition.

If your ideas are constantly criticized and dismissed, seek constructive feedback to understand why. Use this feedback to refine your ideas and demonstrate your willingness to improve. If the criticism continues on…especially without reason…consider finding a more inviting work place that encourages innovation and big ideas full of creativity- consciously remind yourself that you deserve to work where your ideas are appreciated and celebrated, not tolerated and dismissed.

You want to change the color of your house. You are married and need the approval of your partner. Would it be easier for you to ask your partner ? a) to approve for you to change the color of the house b) ' You have 2 colors to choose from , what color do you want to paint the house ? ' Pro tip : Get input and build support for your idea by involving the key people you need to make the decision.

As a seasoned thought leader with a passion for servant leadership, I've found that proactively seeking feedback is a powerful tool for growth. It demonstrates humility and a willingness to learn, which are essential qualities for any leader. By inviting input, you not only refine your ideas but also foster a culture of innovation and collaboration. Remember, the best leaders are those who are curious, inquisitive, and never afraid to have their assumptions challenged. WHO questions YOUR answers?

I find that seeking feedback is valuable. I also find that responding with counterintuitive or stimulant/challenging perspectives tends to transform critical points of view into discussion, and new perspectives. Throughout my career, I have noted how people individually and collectively get "stuck" in process traps or management mindsets. It takes effort to shake ourselves out of these traps.

Never downplay the importance of effective communication. When I was a child, I spoke like a child. When I became an adult, I spoke like an adult. There is an expected level of communication required for each stage of life. In the same vein, every idea has its own suitable means of communicating it. The onus is on you to search it out. Whichever way you choose to communicate, play to your strength. If you choose graphics presentation, make sure it's the best. If you consider it appropriate and you don't have the capability, outsource it. You don't have to be the best, just give the best of results. It should be emphasized that the best idea wins because of its result and how well it has been communicated.

It's an interesting question because who is doing the criticizing? I may be inclined to ask the person to say what they liked and what could be improved... So steer them to share what Is working as well. Depending on the situation it may be helpful to give the person feedback on how their criticism helps and hinders. It may be helpful to look at what aspects of the feedback add value and can be used and what can be left or ignored. The criticism may also be a personality style of seeing what isn't working. Maybe asking for suggestions on how it could work may help.

Find that mentor , it doesn't have to be at work. It can be a manager even cooler than yours at another company that wants to mentor you. You might find them on linkedin . The world is your oyster , seek knowledge from the one that has done the thing that you want to do. For outreach , use linkedin sales navigator . Thank me later.

Collaborate with different people. Find your tribe. Work with people who share your vision and whom you actually LIKE. Life is too short to be surrounded by people who don't see your contribution or dismiss you out of hand.

Facing constant criticism and dismissal of your ideas can be challenging, but it’s essential to approach the situation with a constructive mindset. Here are some thoughtful steps you can take: Reflect on the Feedback: Consider if there is any validity to the criticism. Sometimes, even harsh feedback can contain valuable insights that can help improve your ideas. Build Resilience: Use criticism as an opportunity to build resilience. Remember that successful people often face rejection before achieving their goals. Choose Your Battles: Not all ideas will be accepted, and that’s okay. Focus your energy on the ideas that you’re most passionate about and that align with your goals. Criticism is a natural part of the creative process.