Machiavelli famously described the difficulties of proposing new ideas, for you will receive fervent opposition from those benefitting from the old ways and barely lukewarm support from those who might gain from the new.

Previous research has shown that this can be especially problematic for women, who are looked on negatively for proposing new ideas.  It’s a finding replicated in a new study from the University of Arizona, which finds that pitching new ideas is beneficial for men but harmful for women.

Speaking up

The researchers examined both speaking up with new ideas and also things that should be stopped.  While we often focus primarily on the generation of new ideas, as Vijay Govindarajan explains in his “three boxes method”, it’s also important to stop doing things that are no longer sensible.  This ceasing of unproductive activities seldom gets the same status, however.

Regardless of whether the ideas are for new things or things to stop, however, the authors highlight a gender bias towards men, with this bias having a significant impact on the careers of women.

“Promotive voice is more likely to lead to a higher status, or more respect, among peers on a team. That effect is different for men versus women. Men who speak up promotively are more likely to gain that respect within their team. That ultimately leads to men’s peers seeing them as more leader-like. And men are more likely to emerge as leaders within their teams compared to women who speak up promotively, in the exact same way,” the researchers say.

Gaining status

The data also suggests that speaking up with new ideas is far more beneficial for one’s career than speaking up about things the organization should stop doing.  Ideation was found to help garner status and be perceived as a leader.

“When people suggest ideas for change in organizations, it matters how you do it,” the researchers continue. “If you’re thinking about raising ideas in your team, think about doing so in a more promotive manner, making it more about a future ideal state, as opposed to making a suggestion like, ‘Hey, we’ve got to stop doing this.’ It’s how you frame it. Put a positive spin on it.”

The findings present obvious problems, both in terms of the kinds of ideas that are being promoted within our organizations and the people who are encouraged to do so.

“Our results are … cause for concern as the benefits of speaking up are not equal for everyone,” the researchers conclude. “Although women may spend time speaking up, they do not appear to receive the same benefit as men.”