Idea killers: ways to stop ideas

In the creative thinking course I taught at UW, we spent time listing idea killers. Statements we’ve heard, or used, that stop ideas in their tracks. Have any to add?

Chapter 4 of the Myths of Innovation explores why these are often said, and how to work around them.

Mostly these are used as thought inhibitors: they don’t require any thought to say. They’re used as flinch negative responses, dismissing without explanation. Unlike real critical thinking, which offers a path (e.g if you can overcome x, y and z we’ll consider it) idea killers are lazy dead ends.

Idea Killers

  • We tried that already
  • That never works
  • Would you like a pony?
  • Looks like ass
  • You’re fired
  • We will actively work against you
  • (Laughter)
  • Not in our budget
  • Not an interesting problem
  • We don’t have time
  • Execs will never go for it
  • Out of scope
  • But its the law
  • Too blue sky / Holy grail
  • This train is on fire
  • Wont make enough $$
  • Not in our business
  • Its Non performant (engineering)
  • What are you on?
  • Can we get someone with a brain in here?
(Also see Idea Helpers, a positive spin on the same theme)
  • That isn’t what people want
  • No response at all

What are others you’ve heard?

Leave a Comment / What do you think?

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102 thoughts on “Idea killers: ways to stop ideas”

  • Neil O'Connell - November 23, 2006 at 7:29 am #

  • Who are you again? And why are you dressed like that?

  • Reply ↓
  • reid - November 26, 2006 at 3:22 pm #

  • I heard these from my former CIO in my exit interview:

    “You’re too young to have any good ideas.”

    “You just don’t understand. IT has always been done this way, and it always will. There is no better way.”

    …from what I heard that CIO was unemployed for quite some time after he was laid off. :)

  • Reply ↓
  • Caryn Rose - January 4, 2007 at 8:22 am #

  • “That’s not your job.”

  • Reply ↓
  • wael - March 24, 2007 at 5:31 am #

  • it will never work

    it is not your bussines

    i never heared about that before

    you could not manage it

    do not be so sure about it

  • Reply ↓
  • phil - January 28, 2008 at 3:31 am #

  • the one I use the most would be:

    “Yeah… well… no.”

    ;-)

  • Reply ↓
  • Mark Long - February 10, 2009 at 9:57 am #

  • let’s put together a committee.

    (my apologies if this one has shown up already.)

  • Reply ↓
  • Manny Bonet - September 19, 2009 at 6:07 pm #

  • Here are two:

    Real people have do this …

    People will never understand that …

    and finally related to one of your other blogs I’m sure you will apreciate this.

    That is just too complex …

  • Reply ↓
  • Anete Benedict - September 22, 2010 at 1:21 am #

  • It is very interesting for me to read this article. Thanks the author for it. I like such topics and anything that is connected to them. I definitely want to read a bit more soon.

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  • Reply ↓
  • Pete - January 2, 2011 at 11:18 am #

  • What we really need to do is…

    *silence*

    We did something like that last time!

    Good idea, but we need to talk to x about it and we will get back to you

    Your not a designer.

    Mail it directly to me and we can talk about it further once I’ve had time to go through it

    Yeah, but someone has to pay for it.

  • Reply ↓
  • MarkjOwen - January 2, 2011 at 11:35 am #

  • “That’s good, but not your main objective.”

  • Reply ↓
  • Jess Weiss - January 2, 2011 at 1:13 pm #

  • Great post, and here are a few I’ve heard recently:

    - Not within our purview / title / mission
    - That’s someone else’s job
    - We don’t want to step on x’s toes
    - We’re too resource constrained for such an ambitious project.

  • Reply ↓
  • RAKESH - June 16, 2011 at 10:11 pm #

  • DIMAG GAS CHARANY GAYA HAI (ARE U NUTS)

  • Reply ↓
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