Great ideas are fragile. Without proper care, they die quickly. Think about the last brainstorming session you attended. How many of those ideas actually became something? Probably very few.
Why Ideas Die
Ideas don't die because they're bad. They die from neglect. Here's what typically happens:
- Lost in email. Someone emails a suggestion. It gets buried in the inbox.
- Forgotten after meetings. Great idea in the meeting room, gone by next week.
- No clear owner. Everyone thinks it's someone else's job to follow up.
- No evaluation process. Nobody knows if it's worth pursuing.
- Lack of visibility. Management never sees the idea.
First Aid: 6 Steps to Save Ideas
1. Capture Immediately
Don't wait. Ideas have a short shelf life. Create a system where ideas can be captured the moment they occur - via email, mobile app, web form, or direct input.
2. Document Properly
A half-baked idea is better than no idea. But give it structure: What problem does it solve? Who benefits? What's the potential impact? This makes evaluation easier later.
3. Assign Ownership
Every idea needs a champion. Someone who believes in it and will push it forward. Without ownership, ideas drift into obscurity.
4. Get Input
Ideas improve through collaboration. Share them with colleagues. Get feedback. Let people vote and comment. The best ideas emerge from collective intelligence.
5. Evaluate Systematically
Use a framework. Score ideas on criteria like: feasibility, impact, strategic fit, and resource requirements. This creates objective prioritization.
6. Follow Up Visibly
Make progress transparent. Update stakeholders. Celebrate wins. Kill ideas that don't work (and document why). This builds trust in the process.
The Emergency Room for Ideas
Think of PRE.DO as an emergency room for ideas. It's where ideas go when they need immediate attention. Instead of dying from neglect, they get:
- Immediate capture and documentation
- Triage and prioritization
- Assigned caregivers (owners)
- Regular checkups (follow-up)
- Treatment plans (development roadmaps)
Real-World Impact
Organizations using systematic idea management see dramatic improvements:
- 10x more ideas captured - when it's easy, people contribute more
- 3x faster evaluation - structured process beats ad-hoc
- Better decisions - data-driven prioritization
- Higher engagement - employees see their input matters
Start Your Idea First Aid Kit
You don't need expensive software to start. Begin with these basics:
- One place where all ideas go (not scattered across email, Slack, meetings)
- Simple template for documenting ideas
- Regular review schedule (weekly or bi-weekly)
- Clear decision criteria
- Transparent communication about outcomes
Of course, PRE.DO provides all of this out of the box. But the important thing is to start somewhere. Great ideas are too valuable to lose.