How often do you have an idea that you want to tell your boss,
or your boss's boss, or your boss's boss's boss, and actually
say it? And more important, if you do say it, how often do you
feel the boss really listens?  In too many companies, the answer
to both of those questions is, at best, "hardly ever."  It's a
shame. Leaders need to hear from employees on the front
lines—those who interact with customers, who collaborate across
organizational boundaries or with suppliers, who face the
challenges of developing new products. Many of these employees
have relevant things to say. But they don't speak up, either
because they fear repercussions or they think it's pointless.
It's not easy opening up those lines of communication, to
structure things so that good ideas can flow from bottom to top
and quickly become a reality. The responsibilities rest with the
employees, the bosses and the organization. More specifically:
1. Employees should think more about whom to target with their
ideas.  Typically employees w