leadingtoday.org
Copyright 2004ă weLEAD, Inc.
There are often times
when a leader is looking for a “breakthrough” to solve a serious problem or to
help the organization to reach a higher level of achievement. These are
situations where brainstorming may be
helpful! Brainstorming is a procedure that encourages group members to verbally offer any spontaneous
ideas that immediately come to mind. These ideas
are written on a blackboard or easel and no negative comments or gestures are allowed. Other members of the group are
encouraged to build and expand upon the ideas.
Brainstorming is considered helpful in stimulating
creativity and reducing inhibition in problem solving. It also reduces the domination of the group by certain aggressive
individuals since contributions are expected
to be brief and spontaneous.
The key to successful brainstorming is the ability
of the leader to take a moderator’s
role and eliminate the natural inhibitions people have about offering their personal
ideas without ridicule or judgment. Those who participate in brainstorming
sessions allow themselves to become vulnerable and the leader must do
everything possible to insure that others do not take advantage of this
vulnerability. As a leader, absolutely
allow no criticism of ideas during a
brainstorming session! Here are some other tips that can promote a successful
brainstorming meeting…
Send a short briefing
to the attendees before the meeting begins. It is a good
idea to have members of the group pondering the concept or purpose of the meeting
before they begin the session. Spontaneous ideas are good but they are also
enhanced when one has had some time to think about a concept or problem in
advance.
Small groups are better
than large ones. Try to keep the group smaller than ten in number. Remember that people
become more inhibited, and feel
greater vulnerability in larger groups of people. Smaller groups also have a
higher energy level, are more cohesive and permit ideas to easily feed off of
each other.
Conduct the meetings in
the morning. People are fresher and more creative in the
morning and mid-morning hours. Near the end of the day people become mentally
tired and begin thinking about non-work activities.
Invite the “unexpected”
to attend the meeting! Think of someone who can bring a novel
or fresh perspective to the meeting. Perhaps you can invite a new employee, or
a secretary, or an accountant or the janitor. The purpose of a brainstorming
session is to bring to the surface completely new and refreshing thoughts or
concepts from folks who look at opportunities or problems differently than we do normally. Remember, there are serious
problems that occur from Groupthink!
For weLEAD,
this is Greg Thomas reminding you that it was John Le Carre
who said, “The desk is a dangerous place from which to watch the world”.
To learn more about leadership go to the weLEAD
Home Page!