by Women In Trucking Staff, on Oct 13, 2025 5:00:00 AM
Sometimes the best ideas are practical and simple. Melissa McCormick, Owner of Grace & Salt Leadership Academy, shared such an idea on Engage. She picked up the concept of 10% Useful at a Rotary Means Business conference and shared it on Engage:
“You know when someone offers a suggestion that’s… not quite right and you’re not sure how to tell them it won’t work? Or when you share an idea and it gets ignored or dismissed? It’s discouraging on both sides.The 10% Useful mindset says: Find 10% of the idea that’s usable. Just 10%. It allows the giver to feel heard and valued, and the receiver to stay aligned with the direction or strategy. Everyone walks away encouraged.”
Melissa shared that she’s already trying to put this into practice—and it’s not always easy “on the fly”—but it’s a leadership approach she’s committed to developing.
Community Reactions
WIT members jumped into the conversation, offering their own reflections on the idea:
- One member loved it: “Taking 10% of all 10 ideas is 100% of an idea…right? I wish people weren’t so afraid to pitch ideas that feel dumb, because it could evolve into a winning idea!”
- A fellow Rotarian, called it “pure gold—so simple but powerful” and noted how it can transform the tone of meetings.
- Another member said she planned to share it with her team: “As an out-loud thinker, I do my best thinking when I can throw out ideas—so I get it!”
- And yet another shared that she had never heard of it before but was eager to try—and also noted she’s excited to meet up with fellow WIT members at the Accelerate! Conference & Expo in November.
Why It Matters
Leadership isn’t about making decisions and creating a place where people feel safe to share ideas.. As Melissa put it, “We need to make the environment psychologically safe so people stretch themselves to speak up.”
The “10% Useful” concept is a reminder that even if an idea isn’t fully ready, there’s often a spark of value that can be built upon. And when leaders focus on that spark, collaboration flourishes.
Join the Conversation
Conversations like this are happening every day in Engage, WIT’s online community. Members share leadership lessons, personal experiences, and encouragement that lift everyone higher.
💡 Want to join conversations like this? Explore Engage, WIT’s online community, where members connect, share stories, and support each other every day.
👉 Not a member? Join WIT to participate in conversations with members. Learn more about WIT membership
Related Articles:
- WIT Connections: Building a Strong Community Through Mentoring, Networking
- Engage Spotlight: Building Connections Through Wellness
- Engage Spotlight: Finding Mentorship and Support on Engage
- Engage Spotlight: Building Financial Confidence with Devon Darden
Like this kind of content?
As a member of the Women In Trucking Association, stay on top of emerging trends and business issues impacting transportation and logistics; learn the importance of gender diversity in the workplace and the need for more women drivers; and see best practices in encouraging the employment of women in the trucking industry. Join today! Learn More
