What to Reply When Your Idea Is Dismissed in a Meeting
Having your idea quickly dismissed in a meeting can feel frustrating, especially if you believe it has merit. This situation gives you confident, professional, and calm ways to advocate for your idea without being dismissive in return.
Use these when
- When an idea is dismissed quickly during a team meeting
- When you want to advocate for your idea professionally
- When you're seeking to understand the specific objections
Skip these if
- Don't get defensive or dismiss others' concerns in return
- Don't give up on a good idea without one more attempt to explain it
- Avoid interrupting others to push your point across
12 replies to choose from
I'd like to explain the reasoning behind this a bit more.
I believe this has real potential, can I walk through the details?
I understand the concerns, could we revisit this with more context?
I'd appreciate the chance to elaborate further on this idea.
I hear the hesitation, let me clarify what I meant.
Let's take a moment to unpack this idea a bit more.
I think this deserves a closer look before we move on.
I'd like us to consider this a bit further before dismissing it.
What specifically concerns you about this approach?
Can you help me understand the pushback here?
Can I explain a bit more?
I'd like to revisit this idea.
Make it fit your exact message
Common questions
- How do I advocate for my idea without seeming pushy?
- Ask for space to elaborate and invite questions rather than insisting you're right.
- What if my idea is dismissed again after explaining?
- Accept the team's decision gracefully, and consider revisiting it with more data later.
- How do I handle feeling dismissed in meetings generally?
- Address the pattern directly with your manager if it happens repeatedly across meetings.
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