[Before Speaking]
- Be sure the Idea Sorter slide is on screen.
- Have the Idea Sorter flipchart posted close by the Ideas Board for easy transfer of sticky notes.
[To Read Aloud]
- Now we’ll use our next Action Accelerator: The Idea Sorter.
- Many teams make the mistake of debating ideas too early.
- Instead, we’ll first sort ideas by how quickly we can act on them.
- We’ll evaluate each idea on two simple criteria:
- Do we have the capability to act quickly?
- Do we have the authority to act?
- Based on these answers, ideas go into four categories:
- Act-Now: We have both capability and authority.
- Pull-In: We need outside expertise or resources.
- Push-Up: We need approval from above.
- Push-Up/Pull-In: We need both outside help and approval.
- We’ll focus first on Act-Now ideas to build momentum with quick wins.
- Any questions about how the Idea Sorter works?
- (Address questions briefly; park complex ones.)
Next: Let’s review the instructions for applying this approach to organize our ideas →
[Pro Tips]
- Keep sorting silent—avoid discussion.
- Watch for urge to debate ideas.
- Keep the focus on evaluating ideas for on capability/authority only, not potential benefits.
- Use clear examples if needed.
- Keep momentum moving.
- Park debates about idea benefits or feasibility.
