There is tremendous waste when a good idea goes unheard. Toyota has a reputation of trying every employee idea, recognizing that only a small percentage will pay off handsomely. Toyota recognizes that to deny the legitimacy of an idea is likely to eliminate that source of future ideas – perhaps of an important idea – and is unwilling to take that risk. To be able to do this Toyota has educated their employees to improve the quality of their ideas and shares their operating information with the employees. As a result, a Toyota employee will make considerable effort validating his or her ideas before submitting them.
Again, for a number of resons, an organization may have evolved into one in which to remain quiet is the norm. Our well-developed skills of drawing out employee ideas and championing the best ones can help turn that around.