Before you challenge people, do they know you have their back?

Great ideas are not always enough. In this episode of The Innovator's Mindset, I explore why building rapport matters before we challenge people, push their thinking, or introduce new ideas. I share a story from earlier in my career about someone who was truly ahead of their time. They had great ideas and saw possibilities that many others did not. But the way those ideas were communicated often felt condescending and dismissive. Instead of drawing people toward the ideas, the approach often pushed them away. That experience taught me something I have carried throughout my career: People want to know that if you are going to push them, you also have their back. This matters in leadership, professional development, speaking, teaching, and almost any situation where we are asking people to consider something new. Building rapport does not mean avoiding difficult conversations or lowering expectations. In fact, the opposite can be true. When people know that you care about them, respect their experience, and genuinely want them to succeed, you can often challenge them more. But if we push before building trust, even a great idea can be dismissed because of how it was delivered. Before asking people to move forward, we need to consider whether we have taken the time to connect with where they are right now. Questions for Discussion How does knowing that someone genuinely has your back affect your willingness to be challenged by them? What does it look like to build genuine rapport without avoiding difficult conversations or lowering expectations? Think of a time when a good idea was lost because of how it was communicated. What could have been done differently? ___________ 👉 Share your thoughts in the comments or connect with me on social media using #InnovatorsMindset 🌐 More at: https://georgecouros.com 🎙 Full audio podcast: https://linktr.ee/gcouros Follow George Couros: X: https://x.com/gcouros Instagram: https://instagram.com/gcouros Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/georgecourosauthor/ LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/george-couros-a5146519 📚 Books by George Couros: Forward, Together: https://a.co/d/99RGvl3 The Innovator's Mindset: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0986155497?ref=exp_gcouros_dp_vv_d What Makes a Great Principal: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1948334739?tag=onamzgeorge0f-20 Because of a Teacher: https://www.amazon.com/dp/194833433X?ref=exp_gcouros_dp_vv_d Because of a Teacher 2: https://www.amazon.com/dp/194833450X?tag=onamzgeorge0f-20 Innovate Inside the Box: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1948334127?ref=exp_gcouros_dp_vv_d Music from Bensound - http://bensound.com/