“You can have brilliant ideas, but if you can’t get them across, your ideas won’t get you anywhere.”
Lee Iacocca
Turning Inspiration into Impact
This weekend, a good friend and colleague introduced me to the term “Good Idea Fairy.” It stuck with me—not just because of its humor but because of the truth behind it. We’ve all been there, either as the one brimming with ideas or the one trying to manage them. The challenge isn’t the ideas themselves; it’s what happens next.
For years, I’ve wrestled with this dynamic in my own leadership. As someone who thrives on vision and possibility, I know how easy it is to fall into the trap of chasing the next great idea without a clear plan to bring it to life. Ideas are important, but execution is where leadership earns its stripes.
Moving from Ideas to Action
The key isn’t to suppress creativity; it’s to guide it with intentionality. Here are three ways to lead yourself and your team beyond the allure of endless brainstorming:
1. Pause and Ask the Hard Questions
- Does this idea align with our mission?
- What trade-offs will it require?
- Who will own it, and how will we measure success?
Slowing down to assess ideas might feel counterintuitive, but it saves time and energy in the long run.
2. Create Space for Creativity and Discipline
One of the best ways I’ve found to manage my own “Good Idea Fairy” tendencies is to use a backlog—a running list of ideas to revisit intentionally. I’ve also leaned heavily on books like Essentialism by Greg McKeown, which remind me to say “no” to good ideas so I can say “yes” to great ones. Also, consider watching Derek Sivers’ TED Talk, How to Start a Movement. It’s a brilliant reminder of how execution turns ideas into momentum.
3. Encourage Ownership and Execution
Ideas don’t need to be perfect to be actionable. Challenge your team (and yourself) to move beyond concept to commitment. Execution Angels don’t just work the plan—they embody the discipline that turns inspiration into impact.
Leadership Requires Balance
Every leader wrestles with this tension: the thrill of ideas versus the grit of execution. The question isn’t whether you’ll have great ideas. It’s whether you’ll have the courage and discipline to bring them to life.
