Have you ever approached somebody with a red-hot idea for increasing efficiency-- only to have them become resentful instead of enthusiastic? If this has happened to you then you know what I mean when I say that most people resent having other people's ideas forced on them.
When someone approaches us with an idea, our instinctive reaction is to put up a defense against it, and most of us are egotistical enough to think that our ideas are better than anyone else's. There are three tested rules for putting your ideas across other people and arouse their enthusiasm:
Rule one: Use a fly rod-not a feeding tube.
Let's take a lesson from a fisherman who casts his worm temptingly and entices the fish to the hook.Bring your ideas out where they can be seen."Have you considered this?" is better than "Here's what we should do."Let the other fellow sell himself on your idea.
Rule two: Let the other fellow argue your case.
State your case moderately and accurately. Then say that of course you may be mistaken about it; which causes your listener to receive what you have to say and turn about and convince you of it since you are in doubt.
Rule three: Ask, don't tell.
When you put your ideas across with questions, you give the other fellow a share in the idea. An example can be "is life so dear or peace so sweet as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery?" In other words, you are convincing people to rebel and fight for their rights.
You don't tell the person the idea, you ask for the answer, giving him a chance to sell himself.