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Sometimes, you don't have to tell anyone their idea sucks. You can make them reach that conclusion themselves by asking the right questions - or you'll realise
by creature 14y ago
Sometimes, you don't have to tell anyone their idea sucks. You can make them reach that conclusion themselves by asking the right questions - or you'll realise it's not so sucky after all.
"Hmm. How is your idea different from X?" (Instead of "but X does that already, and has a 12 month head start.")
"But what happens when Y?" (Instead of "As soon as Y happens you're screwed.")
"Do you really need W & Z?" (Instead of "You're overreaching. You don't need W and Z in your first iterations.")
Questions let you find out if you're missing the bigger picture, and hopefully let them figure out for themselves what the problems are. If they blow you off they're probably beyond telling anyway.
- five18pm 14y agoSome one did both to our startup. It was one of the most productive meetings that I had. The conclusion that we needed to shut shop was pretty clear after that meeting. It was something that I guess we knew already, but needed validation (you know how much founders hang on to hope). So yes, if an idea sucks, say "it sucks." It will be a revelation.
- RougeFemme 14y agoAgreed. But if can't figure it out and/or they blow you off, point out what you believe their problems are and encourage them to get a second opinion.
- rwallace 14y agoIf they blow you off, they're telling you they don't want to hear bad news. How to react at that point is a matter of judgment; I've personally found telling people things they don't want to hear is tiring enough that nowadays I save it for emergencies, so in this kind of case I just drop the pointed questions, and nod and smile and say something pleasant that's vague enough not to be untrue.
- Mahn 14y agoThis is probably the best way to approach it. It doesn't come off as rude, it addresses what it has to address, and it lets everyone reach their own conclusions.
- dmiladinov 14y agoThis is really great advice. Few people enjoy or seek out being told they're wrong or their idea is not going to work. By asking questions, you invite the person to open themselves up within their own assumptions. With the right line of questioning, you can help them see what they've been overlooking. It'll expose the problems with their idea and they'll thank you for leading them to "their own" conclusion, which just happens to agree with yours.