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Ask HN: Should I take an idea to the chief executive?

2 points by ch215 ↗ HN
I have a suggestion which could add a six-or-seven-figure income stream to a business I've not long joined. I'm a lowly worker, on the first rung of management, and the company employs thousands.

I'm considering whether to email the idea to the chief executive. I just don't want to see it lost in layers of management and I'm not sure who else can make it happen.

I lack self-confidence so I'm worried about overstepping the mark and I could do with some reassurance that it's not a rash, ill-judged decision. What do think? Is taking an idea to the top a no-no?

9 comments

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brudgers
Sleep on it for a few days. Think about your motivations. Consider how complete is your understanding of the particular business and industry. Ask yourself if the prospect of six figure savings is a big enough number to deserve the CEO 's attention or if it is something rightly delegated to a lower level [e.g. it's rounding error at big companies].

Finally, the fact that you are asking indicates unfamiliarity with the existing corporate culture...unsurprisingly for a recent hire. My advice is to watch and learn and figure out why things are done the way they are done and what forces are really in play.

Good luck.

ch215
Thanks for your thoughts, sound advice. It's not something I want to jump into. You are likely right about trying to target the "right" person.
ascendantlogic
Why exactly are you not running with this idea yourself?
ch215
In a nutshell: I can't. Some say there's no such word but I can't magic up the infrastructure needed. The firm I work for is hundreds of years old and it's an idea that only such an institution could implement. Thanks for your question though, it gives me something to think about, namely how I could perhaps adapt the idea. Who knows? Maybe there is a start-up in there somewhere.
ascendantlogic
There is no such word. If it's capital intensive you may need to convince some VCs to front a decent amount of money but you should investigate all your options.
Tomte
So because you have no trust at all in the abilities of your direct superiors you want to mail the big boss?

Depends on him and your superiors, but generally it's a very bad idea. You always go through your direct superior first.

If your idea is "lost in the layers" you can still cut through the layers, if you really must.

Going to the big boss directly will probably result in two things: he will dismiss it without a second thought. And your direct superior will not be happy.

And btw, six or seven figures are nice, but that's not automatically a good idea, even if your estimate was correct.

ch215
Thanks for your thoughts, you make good points. I'll likely play it safe and ask my manager to send it up the chain to the appropriate person.

It's not so much about having no trust in my superiors. I work at a newspaper company but in editorial and the idea is on the business side of the "church and state" divide.

It's an ailing industry, which could do with any revenue stream it can get its hands on, and I just want to help where I can.

greenyoda
How receptive your CEO would be to an idea from an unknown employee is very much dependent on your company's culture and your CEO's personality. I think that the main risk would be not from the CEO (who would probably just ignore your idea if they thought it was worthless), but from your manager, who might be upset that you didn't get their advice or approval before approaching the CEO. It would be hard for someone who isn't familiar with your company's culture and politics to give you useful advice, so you might get a better answer by asking a co-worker in your company who has been around longer than you have (and who you trust to be discreet).

Also, a six-figure income stream may not be worth the trouble for a business that's big enough to employ thousands of people (I'm guessing at least hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue). It may seem like a lot of money to you, but it could be a drop in the bucket for the company and a distraction from their core lines of business.

ch215
Thanks for your sage words. It's not massive money in the grand picture, I know, but neither is it insignificant in a rapidly declining industry, such as print journalism. However, I glady take your points aboard and I'm glad I asked HN!