Have you ever gotten an idea? I mean a really good one. Then, when you shared that idea with someone, the response was–well, let’s just say it wasn’t so positive. The person may have demeaned your idea, or criticized it, or worse yet, said, “What a dumb idea! It will never work.”

Ouch! Having someone put down your ideas can be painful, and if it happens often enough, you may even be tempted to never share any of your ideas with any one again. But don’t give into that temptation. There are plenty of people who have come up with awesome ideas that at first were thought by some to be sure to fail.

Be assured! Know that everything starts with an idea and that the creative power of thought is one of the greatest powers on earth. Just because some person’s response to your idea was not positive does not mean that it was a bad idea at all. In fact it may be a very good idea, or at least a good idea in the making. No, a negative response might just mean you have to be more careful whom you share your ideas with.

Let me explain. We live in a very competitive society where scorn and ridicule and put-downs are often people’s typical–even automatic–response, especially with those prone to jealousy. Some people don’t like any idea that is not their idea and some simply lack the proper attitude to see the possibilities. So whenever you have an idea to share, you want to seek out someone that you know to be open to new things, who displays an attitude of encouragement, by saying something like, “That’s an idea!”

I, myself, only share ideas with people who I have trained to respond with this phrase, “That’s an idea!”

By the same token, I never want to discourage others from sharing their ideas with me, so when my wife, children, friends and clients share their ideas with me, I initially respond with this phrase, “That’s an idea!” This shows that I am open. It shows that I am listening. It demonstrates that I am open for more ideas.

Now just because one responds to ideas with, “That’s an idea!” does not mean you think the idea should be acted on or even that you believe the idea is a good one. It simply is a means to communicate to the idea-bearer an attitude that says, “I applaud you and affirm you in your creative thinking.” If an idea has merit, you can then help the person to flesh it out, by asking questions and offering suggestions to improve upon the idea, in a way that inspires and encourages the person.

Even if the idea seems to have little or no merit to you, you never want to shoot people and their ideas down, because it may hold them back from sharing future ideas that may turn out to be really great.

Make it a point to really listen to other people’s ideas and respond to every one of them in a way that will allow the person to walk away from the conversation feeling encouraged and valued as a person who is capable of having great ideas. Now that’s an idea!