Suppose an employee makes a suggestion to you that is ridiculous. Of the following, the most proper action by you should be to:

• A. Reject the suggestion and reprimand the man for being ridiculous
• B. Bring the suggestion up at a meeting so that the other men can comment on it
• C. Return the suggestion and tell the man that the suggestion, though valuable, is not applicable at this time
• D. Acknowledge the suggestion and explain why it is impractical

Answer: (D)

When handling ideas from a coworker, the right move is to acknowledge the effort and provide clear, constructive feedback about why the suggestion isn’t practical. This approach respects the employee, keeps lines of communication open, and supports a constructive workplace culture. Explaining the practical constraints—such as budget, policy, safety, or operational impact—helps the person understand why the idea can’t be adopted now and what would be needed to make it feasible later. It also encourages learning and continued contribution, since the employee sees that their input is valued even if it can’t be implemented immediately. By contrast, chastising or publically inviting others to critique the idea risks humiliating the employee and shutting down initiative, while offering a vague note that something is “not applicable” without explanation can leave them confused. The most professional approach balances respect with clear, informative feedback and preserves future collaboration.