Skip to main content
  • Foundation
  • Executive network
  • CEO Circle
  • SHRM Business
  • Linkage Logo
  • Store
  • Sign In
  • Account
    • My Account
    • Logout
  • Global
    • Global
    • India
    • MENA
SHRM
About
Book a Speaker
Join Today
Renew
Rejoin Now
Renew
  • Membership
  • Certification
    Certification

    Smiling asian student studying in library with laptop books doing online research for coursework, making notes for essay homework assignment, online education e-learning concept
    Get Certified!

    Be recognized as an HR leader with your SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP credential.

    • How to Get Certified

      Demonstrate your ability to apply HR principles to real-life situations. No other HR certification compares.

      • How to Get Certified
      • Eligibility Criteria
      • Exam Details and Fees
      • SHRM-CP
      • SHRM-SCP
      • Which Certification is Best for Me
      • Certification FAQs
    • Prepare for the Exam

      Give yourself the best chance to pass your SHRM certification exam.

      • Exam Preparation
      • SHRM BASK
      • SHRM Learning System
      • Instructor-Led Learning
      • Self-Study
      • Study Aids & Add-ons
    • Recertification

      Recertify your SHRM Credentials before your end date!

      • Specialty Credentials
      • Qualifications
      Certification Portal
  • Topics & Tools
    Topics & Tools

    Stay up to date with workplace news and leverage our vast library of resources to streamline day-to-day HR tasks.

    The white house in washington, dc.
    Executive Order Impact Zone

    Do not abandon, but evaluate and evolve. It is about legal, equal opportunity for all.

    • News & Trends

      Follow breaking news and emerging workplace trends.

      Legal & Compliance

      Stay informed on workplace legal updates and their impacts.

      From the Workplace

      Explore diverse perspectives from your peers on today's workplaces.

      Flagships

      Get curated collections of podcasts, videos, articles, and more produced by SHRM.

    • HR Topics
      • AI in the Workplace
      • Civility at Work
      • Compensation & Benefits
      • Inclusion & Diversity
      • Talent Acquisition
      • Workplace Technology
      • Workplace Violence Prevention
      SEE ALL
      SHRM Research
    • Tools & Samples

      Access member resources and tools to streamline HR tasks.

      • Forms & Checklists
      • How-To Guides
      • Interactive Tools
      • Job Descriptions
      • Policies
      • Toolkits
      SEE ALL
      Ask an Advisor
  • Events & Education
    Events & Education

    SHRM25 in San Diego, June 29 - July 2, 2025
    Join us for SHRM25 in San Diego

    Register for the World’s Largest HR Conference being held on June 29 - July 2, 2025

    • Events
      • SHRM25
      • INCLUSION 2025
      • Linkage Institute 2025
      • The AI+HI Project 2026
      • Talent 2026
      SEE ALL
      Webinars
    • Educational Programs

      Designed and delivered by HR experts to empower you with the knowledge and tools you need to drive lasting change in the workplace.

      Specialty Credentials

      Demonstrate targeted competence and enhance credibility among peers and employers.

      Qualifications

      Gain a deeper understanding and develop critical skills.

    • Team Training & Development

      Customized training programs unique to your organization’s needs.

  • Business Solutions
  • Advocacy
    Advocacy

    Make your voice heard on public policy issues impacting the workplace.

    Advocacy
    SHRM's President & CEO testifies to Congress on "The State of American Education"
    • Policy Areas
      • Workforce Development
      • Workplace Inclusion
      • Workplace Flexibility & Leave
      • Workplace Governance
      • Workplace Health Care
      • Workplace Immigration
      State Affairs

      SHRM advances policy solutions in state legislatures nationwide.

      Global Policy

      SHRM is the go-to for global HR leaders and businesses on workplace matters.

    • Advocacy Team (A-Team)

      SHRM’s A-Team is a key member benefit, giving you the tools, insights, and opportunities to shape workplace policy and drive real impact.

      Take Action

      Urge lawmakers to support policies that create lasting, positive change.

      Advocacy & Legislative Resources

      Access SHRM’s curated policy materials and content.

    • SHRM-Led Coalitions
      • Generation Cares
      • The Section 127 Coalition
      • Learn More & Partner with SHRM Government Affairs
  • Community
    Community

    Woman raising hand in group
    Find a SHRM Chapter

    Easily find a local professional or student chapter in your area.

    • Chapters

      Find local connections from over 607 chapters and state councils and create your personalized HR network.

      SHRM Connect

      Post polls, get crowdsourced answers to your questions and network with other HR professionals online.

      SHRM Northern California

      Join SHRM members in the greater San Francisco Bay area for local events and networking.

    • Membership Councils

      Learn about SHRM's five regional councils and the Membership Advisory Council (MAC).

      • Membership Advisory Council
      • Regional Councils
    • Volunteers

      Learn about volunteer opportunities with SHRM.

      • Volunteer Leader Resource Center
Close
  • Membership
  • Certification
    back
    Certification
    Smiling asian student studying in library with laptop books doing online research for coursework, making notes for essay homework assignment, online education e-learning concept
    Get Certified!

    Be recognized as an HR leader with your SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP credential.

    • How to Get Certified

      Demonstrate your ability to apply HR principles to real-life situations. No other HR certification compares.

      • How to Get Certified
      • Eligibility Criteria
      • Exam Details and Fees
      • SHRM-CP
      • SHRM-SCP
      • Which Certification is Best for Me
      • Certification FAQs
    • Prepare for the Exam

      Give yourself the best chance to pass your SHRM certification exam.

      • Exam Preparation
      • SHRM BASK
      • SHRM Learning System
      • Instructor-Led Learning
      • Self-Study
      • Study Aids & Add-ons
    • Recertification

      Recertify your SHRM Credentials before your end date!

      • Specialty Credentials
      • Qualifications
      Certification Portal
  • Topics & Tools
    back
    Topics & Tools

    Stay up to date with workplace news and leverage our vast library of resources to streamline day-to-day HR tasks.

    The white house in washington, dc.
    Executive Order Impact Zone

    Do not abandon, but evaluate and evolve. It is about legal, equal opportunity for all.

    • News & Trends

      Follow breaking news and emerging workplace trends.

      Legal & Compliance

      Stay informed on workplace legal updates and their impacts.

      From the Workplace

      Explore diverse perspectives from your peers on today's workplaces.

      Flagships

      Get curated collections of podcasts, videos, articles, and more produced by SHRM.

    • HR Topics
      • AI in the Workplace
      • Civility at Work
      • Compensation & Benefits
      • Inclusion & Diversity
      • Talent Acquisition
      • Workplace Technology
      • Workplace Violence Prevention
      SEE ALL
      SHRM Research
    • Tools & Samples

      Access member resources and tools to streamline HR tasks.

      • Forms & Checklists
      • How-To Guides
      • Interactive Tools
      • Job Descriptions
      • Policies
      • Toolkits
      SEE ALL
      Ask an Advisor
  • Events & Education
    back
    Events & Education
    SHRM25 in San Diego, June 29 - July 2, 2025
    Join us for SHRM25 in San Diego

    Register for the World’s Largest HR Conference being held on June 29 - July 2, 2025

    • Events
      • SHRM25
      • INCLUSION 2025
      • Linkage Institute 2025
      • The AI+HI Project 2026
      • Talent 2026
      SEE ALL
      Webinars
    • Educational Programs

      Designed and delivered by HR experts to empower you with the knowledge and tools you need to drive lasting change in the workplace.

      Specialty Credentials

      Demonstrate targeted competence and enhance credibility among peers and employers.

      Qualifications

      Gain a deeper understanding and develop critical skills.

    • Team Training & Development

      Customized training programs unique to your organization’s needs.

  • Business Solutions
  • Advocacy
    back
    Advocacy

    Make your voice heard on public policy issues impacting the workplace.

    Advocacy
    SHRM's President & CEO testifies to Congress on "The State of American Education"
    • Policy Areas
      • Workforce Development
      • Workplace Inclusion
      • Workplace Flexibility & Leave
      • Workplace Governance
      • Workplace Health Care
      • Workplace Immigration
      State Affairs

      SHRM advances policy solutions in state legislatures nationwide.

      Global Policy

      SHRM is the go-to for global HR leaders and businesses on workplace matters.

    • Advocacy Team (A-Team)

      SHRM’s A-Team is a key member benefit, giving you the tools, insights, and opportunities to shape workplace policy and drive real impact.

      Take Action

      Urge lawmakers to support policies that create lasting, positive change.

      Advocacy & Legislative Resources

      Access SHRM’s curated policy materials and content.

    • SHRM-Led Coalitions
      • Generation Cares
      • The Section 127 Coalition
      • Learn More & Partner with SHRM Government Affairs
  • Community
    back
    Community
    Woman raising hand in group
    Find a SHRM Chapter

    Easily find a local professional or student chapter in your area.

    • Chapters

      Find local connections from over 607 chapters and state councils and create your personalized HR network.

      SHRM Connect

      Post polls, get crowdsourced answers to your questions and network with other HR professionals online.

      SHRM Northern California

      Join SHRM members in the greater San Francisco Bay area for local events and networking.

    • Membership Councils

      Learn about SHRM's five regional councils and the Membership Advisory Council (MAC).

      • Membership Advisory Council
      • Regional Councils
    • Volunteers

      Learn about volunteer opportunities with SHRM.

      • Volunteer Leader Resource Center
Join Today
Renew
Rejoin Now
Renew
  • Store
    • Global
    • India
    • MENA
  • About
  • Book a Speaker
  • Foundation
  • Executive network
  • CEO Circle
  • SHRM Business
  • Linkage Logo
SHRM
Sign In
  • Account
    • My Account
    • Logout
Close

  1. Topics & Tools
  2. Workplace News & Trends
  3. Managing Smart
  4. Embracing Big Ideas
Share
  • Linked In
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Email

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Vivamus convallis sem tellus, vitae egestas felis vestibule ut.


Error message details.

Copy button
Reuse Permissions

Request permission to republish or redistribute SHRM content and materials.


Learn More
Feature

Embracing Big Ideas

Your employee has a new idea—and you love it. But don’t leave them holding the bag.

January 8, 2024 | Kylie Ora Lobell

An employee leans back in his chair at his desk, unenthusiastically shaking his boss' hand., while another employee rolls in a cart full of papers.

A new employee anxious to prove her worth goes to her manager with a big idea she thinks will make her department more efficient. Perhaps she’d like to teach a new skill to her colleagues, or maybe she has a cost-cutting idea for contracting with new vendors. “That sounds great,” her manager says, giving her the green light to try out her idea. “Now make it happen.”

While the employee may enthusiastically start to plan and implement her idea, she begins to feel overwhelmed as the project takes an increasing amount of time away from her “real job,” and she finds herself working longer hours. Frustrated with herself for suggesting her idea in the first place, and with her manager for not giving her the support she needs, she drops the project, resolving not to make the same mistake again the next time inspiration strikes.

Researchers have found this scenario to be all too common, and it’s hurting innovation in the workplace. A 2023 study from the University of Iowa found that when a manager delegates a new idea solely to the employee who suggested it, the demands of implementing the idea often lead to an unsustainable workload, and the employee regrets having spoken up.

“If the worker is already busy and with little time to run a new initiative or lead another task force, then they may react negatively,” says Daniel Newton, lead author of the study and assistant professor of management and entrepreneurship in the University of Iowa’s Tippie College of Business. “Now, to take some of the heat off managers, they’re busy too. Employees may forget that and think that if they come up with a new idea, their manager will somehow wave a wand and make it happen. Either way, someone has to do the work.”

Make the Necessary Investment

Employees need more than the go-ahead from their managers—they also need ample support and resources to successfully implement their proposal. Keith Keating, senior vice president and chief learning and talent officer at Archwell, a services provider for the mortgage and finance industries headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., says he’s not surprised by what the Iowa study found. “It’s essential to create an environment where employees feel supported and know that their ideas are valued, not just as a source of extra work, but as vital contributions to the organization’s success,” he says.

Keating, author of The Trusted Learning Advisor (Kogan Page, 2023), recommends that companies have clear processes and channels for idea submission and evaluation. “This structure ensures that ideas are not just thrown into the day-to-day hustle, but are given the attention and consideration they deserve,” he explains. “It’s about creating a system where ideas are welcomed, assessed, and, if viable, integrated into the organization’s strategy with proper planning and resource allocation.”

Keating says that after an idea is endorsed by a manager, it’s crucial to get additional team members on board so employees aren’t quickly overloaded with new responsibilities. “It’s not solely the responsibility of the individual who proposed the idea to execute it,” he says. At Archwell, when a new idea is accepted and endorsed, managers use the collective skills and resources of their team to support the proposal’s development and implementation. “This approach not only reduces the burden on the individual, but it also fosters a sense of collective ownership and pride in the innovations we pursue,” Keating says.

Give Employees the Access They Need

Theresa Stevenson, chief people officer at Innovation Refunds—an organization in West Des Moines, Iowa, that helps eligible small and medium-sized businesses access incentives from federal and state governments—has also seen the negative consequences of managers delegating new projects solely to the employees who come up with them. This is why she says Innovation Refunds’ employees are given the opportunity to talk not only with their own manager, but also with other managers when they want to pitch an idea.

“Employees might not feel comfortable sharing their big ideas with their direct manager for a number of reasons, [with] fear of additional work being only one of them,” Stevenson says. “Companies looking to encourage their employees to share big ideas should consider making company leaders more accessible [to them]. These could include ‘skip-level’ meetings, where employees connect with their one-over-one leader … to make it simpler for employees to connect with executive leaders throughout the organization, allowing for candid, impromptu conversation.”

Stevenson says that employees who feel heard are more engaged, team-oriented and committed to their jobs. “We recently experienced a period of transformation, and ideas from employees were essential as we figured out how to navigate it in the best way possible,” she explains. “My approach to human resources is aligning business priorities to people strategies. If employees aren’t at the center of this work, it can’t happen. It is our job to break down traditional workplace hierarchies and ensure employees feel comfortable connecting directly to leadership to share their thoughts and ideas.”

Establish a Culture of Innovation

Stevenson often holds in-house focus groups, where she encourages employees to share their ideas. “These sessions are employee-led, with the people team listening to their thoughts and capturing the most important points,” she says. “The key takeaways are then used in recommendations to the executive team. Programs like this ensure that the Innovation Refunds environment is as open to new ideas as possible.”

Mitch Chailland, president of Canal HR, a provider of business administrative services in Metairie, La., says that when it comes to encouraging big ideas, there needs to be a culture where employee ideas are welcomed and valued, and employees are given recognition and rewards for being proactive. “Whether through formal recognition programs, opportunities for professional development or involvement in bringing their ideas to fruition, acknowledging their contribution is vital to maintaining an innovative culture,” he says. “Fostering a culture where employees feel comfortable and motivated to share their big ideas requires a thoughtful approach that balances encouragement with practical support.”

If an employee makes a proposal to a manager who chooses not to accept it, they should give the employee the courtesy of a reason, says Newton. “That way, the employee doesn’t think their idea went into a black hole and disappeared,” he says. “It shows that their idea was at least given due consideration, and leadership wants to keep hearing from them.” Newton also notes that failing to give a reason can discourage the employee from making future suggestions.

Listening to employee ideas not only fosters an individual’s career development, but it also promotes the company’s growth. “In today’s rapidly changing business landscape, staying ahead often means being open to new ideas and approaches,” Newton says. “Encouraging these big ideas ensures that we are always considering fresh, potentially game-changing concepts that could give us a competitive edge.”

Employees in the trenches of the workplace often have the insight company leaders crave, says William Sipling, senior people strategy partner at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Ind. “Individual contributors often have nuanced, novel and targeted solutions given the experience, habits and organic improvements they bring to pain points,” Sipling explains. “Therefore, they generally have the best diagnoses of specific areas of opportunity.”

Kylie Ora Lobell is a freelance writer based in Los Angeles.

Performance Management


Artificial Intelligence in the Workplace

​An organization run by AI is not a futuristic concept. Such technology is already a part of many workplaces and will continue to shape the labor market and HR. Here's how employers and employees can successfully manage generative AI and other AI-powered systems.



Related Content

Kelly Dobbs Bunting speaks onstage at SHRM24
(opens in a new tab)
News
Why AI+HI Is Essential to Compliance

HR must always include human intelligence and oversight of AI in decision-making in hiring and firing, a legal expert said at SHRM24. She added that HR can ensure compliance by meeting the strictest AI standards, which will be in Colorado’s upcoming AI law.

(opens in a new tab)
News
A 4-Day Workweek? AI-Fueled Efficiencies Could Make It Happen

The proliferation of artificial intelligence in the workplace, and the ensuing expected increase in productivity and efficiency, could help usher in the four-day workweek, some experts predict.

(opens in a new tab)
News
How One Company Uses Digital Tools to Boost Employee Well-Being

Learn how Marsh McLennan successfully boosts staff well-being with digital tools, improving productivity and work satisfaction for more than 20,000 employees.

HR Daily Newsletter

Stay up to date with the latest HR news, trends, and expert advice each business day.

Success title

Success caption

Manage Subscriptions
  • About SHRM
  • Careers at SHRM
  • Press Room
  • Contact SHRM
  • Book a SHRM Executive Speaker
  • Advertise with Us
  • Partner with Us
  • Copyright & Permissions
  • Post a Job
  • Find an HR Job
Follow Us
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
  • SHRM Newsletters
  • Ask An Advisor

© 2025 SHRM. All Rights Reserved

SHRM provides content as a service to its readers and members. It does not offer legal advice, and cannot guarantee the accuracy or suitability of its content for a particular purpose. Disclaimer


  1. Privacy Policy

  2. Terms of Use

  3. Accessibility

Join SHRM for Exclusive Access to Member Content

SHRM Members enjoy unlimited access to articles and exclusive member resources.

Already a member?
Free Article
Limit Reached

Get unlimited access to articles and member-exclusive resources.

You've reached the limit of 1 free article this month. Join to access unlimited articles and member-only resources.

Already a member?
Free Article
Exclusive Executive-Level Content

This content is for the SHRM Executive Network and Executive Content Subscription members only.

You've reached the limit of 1 free article this month. Join the Executive Network and enjoy unlimited content.

Already a member?
Free Article
Exclusive Executive-Level Content

This content is for the SHRM Executive Network and Executive Content Subscription members only.

You've reached the limit of 1 free article this month. Join and enjoy unlimited access to SHRM Executive Network Content.

Already a member?
Unlock Your Career with SHRM Membership

Please enjoy this free resource! Join SHRM for unlimited access to exclusive articles and tools.

Already a member?

Your membership is almost expired! Renew today for unlimited access to member content.

Renew now

Your membership has expired. Renew today for unlimited access to member content.

Renew Now

Your Executive Network membership is nearing its expiration. Renew now to maintain access.

Renew Now

Your membership has expired. Renew your Executive Network benefits today.

Renew Now