their knowledge, and they are unlikely to
tolerate controversial ideas. If the context
has shifted, however, the leader may need
access to those maverick concepts. To get
around this issue, a leader must listen to the
experts while simultaneously welcoming
novel thoughts and solutions from others.
Executives at one shoe manufacturer did
this by opening up the brainstorming process
for new shoe styles to the entire company.
As a result, a security guard submitted
a design for a shoe that became one of their
best sellers.
Another potential obstacle is “analysis
paralysis,” where a group of experts hits a
stalemate, unable to agree on any answers
because of each individual’s entrained
thinking—or ego.