{"id":227039,"date":"2022-08-11T05:38:41","date_gmt":"2022-08-11T11:38:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/corevalues.com\/?p=227039"},"modified":"2022-08-11T05:38:41","modified_gmt":"2022-08-11T11:38:41","slug":"painless-brainstorming-for-teams-and-leaders","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/corevalues.com\/dev\/2022\/08\/11\/painless-brainstorming-for-teams-and-leaders\/","title":{"rendered":"Painless Brainstorming for Teams and Leaders"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Utter the word \u201cbrainstorming\u201d to your department, and it could send a person or two scurrying out of the huddle.\u00a0 For many, the process of brainstorming is just as pleasant as nuking their brains in the microwave.\u00a0 It\u2019s a mix of desperately trying to get everyone\u2019s \u201cgood ideas\u201d, carefully treading the waters so as not to offend anyone, and yet ending up with a ridiculously bizarre result (when it sounded picture-perfect on the drawing board).<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a tiring process, mentally, emotionally, physically, and might we say spiritually.\u00a0 Yet brainstorming persists for many reasons.\u00a0\u00a0 Our daily office routine doesn\u2019t exactly afford us the time nor the creativity to think \u201cout of the box\u201d.\u00a0 But when we put a group of people together, we harness contrasting skills, beliefs, and experiences.\u00a0 The expected resolution to a posed issue is a filtered, procured, and efficient idea. Flawless and smooth. No problem.<\/p>\n

Why then is brainstorming painful?<\/h2>\n

The problem I find is that it isn\u2019t so much the issue at hand.\u00a0 What causes agony is the desire to strike a balance between competing requirements.\u00a0 It\u2019s finding that delicate equilibrium between viability and creativity.\u00a0 Ideally, a brainstorming session is supposed to feel liberating.\u00a0 It\u2019s a chance to ask those odd questions without judgment (Wouldn\u2019t it be great if your toothbrush could moonlight as a comb?).\u00a0 But it is also meant to elicit hardnosed thinking (Why would you be asking that, we manufacture acrylic paints!).<\/p>\n

Here’s what I think.<\/p>\n

The painful part of brainstorming is part of the process.\u00a0 And dare I say, that it shouldn\u2019t be avoided.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s why.\u00a0 We all know that different types of ideas materialize at different stages of brainstorming.\u00a0 In the first part of a brainstorming session, most of the ideas generated are practical ones. It\u2019s obvious, after all.\u00a0 However, the more original ones, the ones that pack a punch come later.<\/p>\n

Another pressure point is between the manager and the subordinate or non-managers.\u00a0 Brainstorming can be hierarchical.\u00a0 In sessions composed of managers and team members, even the most beneficial ideas can shrivel with a scowl from the boss.\u00a0 On the flip side, bad ideas can fly with a smirk.<\/p>\n

What I do notice, however, (and this is what the TIGERS 6 Principles\u2122<\/a> can bring), is the benefit of an outsider.\u00a0 Naturally, we gravitate towards familiarity and comfort.\u00a0 It\u2019s tempting to keep on eliciting from our own elders.\u00a0\u00a0 But what they\u2019re missing out on here by sticking to our own is the fresh perspective that an outsider may bring.<\/p>\n

This process is being used now in a rural collaboration among government, nonprofit, business, and resident collaboration that totally neutralized the political influence of the main partner. This is so actionable community development decisions that lead to planning occur. It is an economic development process that is developing community infrastructure so that young people return to the community after their college or trade school education so communities grow rather than frizzle.<\/p>\n

Another significant point is the desire to balance out conflicting personalities in the workplace.\u00a0\u00a0 We had to make do with video calls during the pandemic.\u00a0 But we knew that this didn\u2019t work as well as in-person meetings.\u00a0 Some are ill at ease with a physical nudge from a coworker or colleague.\u00a0 Others rely on body language.\u00a0 Whatever the medium, facilitators must note that some people require kind persuasion face to face.<\/p>\n

Brainstorming techniques<\/h2>\n

While we are on the topic of brainstorming, let me share with you some techniques we use to provoke dynamic brainstorming.<\/p>\n

Brainstorming Tool #1:\u00a0 Ask the Hard Questions<\/h3>\n

When a question is asked and someone offers an answer, we often think that the answer alone solves it.\u00a0 As a result, we stop exploring and creative thinking comes to a complete halt.\u00a0\u00a0 But with this brainstorming tool, we encourage participants to explore every nook and cranny EVEN BEFORE ATTEMPTING TO FIND A SOLUTION.\u00a0\u00a0 The benefits are many.\u00a0 For one, it allows the non-managers to ask their own questions even if the bosses have given their say.\u00a0 Second, this technique allows everyone to put questions that haven\u2019t been considered before, out in the open.\u00a0 I\u2019ve seen how this \u201cchanges\u201d the problem because the team now sees the issue \u201cdifferently\u201d.<\/p>\n

When to do this:<\/p>\n