“Changing key behaviors creates openness The Idea Friendly Method doesn’t mean saying, “We should be more open to new ideas!” Or worse—saying, “You should be open to new ideas!” It means shifting key behaviors toward openness. Gather Your Crowd moves away from a few people deciding for everyone. When you start with an idea that entices others, you’re immediately opening up participation. You’re not asking people to join your committee; you’re asking them to be part of something they care about. Build Connections breaks down the isolation that breeds closed thinking. When people from different groups start talking to each other, we discover possibilities we never knew existed. Connections help us find the resources we need and give us more options. Take Small Steps cuts down the fear of failure that kills new ideas. When the stakes are small, people are more willing to try. When we see small successes, we’re willing to try bigger things. Small steps build confidence and momentum. Together, these three parts create not just openness to new ideas, but a friendly welcome for them. Now, all ideas are good enough to test. It’s that openness to new ideas that makes a town able to cope no matter what happens.”