Simple Rules For Brainstorming... that Are Really Hard to Follow

Brainstorming always starts with good intentions, but often ends up with anger, frustration, and inaction.

Why?

What I've noticed in my work is that people often mistake "discussing" for "brainstorming." They talk about ideas in a group -- they debate, they argue, they agree and disagree -- and call it brainstorming. But effective brainstorming is about coming up with lots of ideas and the process looks very different than a high-energy conversation at a meeting.

These are the guidelines we use at GrowthWorks for good brainstorming:

• Start with a question that clearly targets what you're looking for. For example, "What new services could we offer to increase customer loyalty?"
• Give people time to think and write ideas individually before you start sharing ideas. Five minutes is often sufficient. You'll get more ideas this way. You also will avoid group think -- the tendency for everyone to latch onto the idea of one influential group member and to discuss it in great detail, at the expense of discussing other ideas.
• Set time limits or goals for numbers of ideas. This sharpens focus. It creates energy and urgency.
• Push for as many ideas as possible. That's what a brainstorm is about.
• Suspend judgment. It is critical to not be critical. Don't evaluate ideas as you go. Don't  discuss the pros and cons of ideas as you go. Don't let anyone get away with shooting down the viability of any idea -- no matter how wacky, costly or familiar. After you generate as many ideas as possible you'll get to decide which ones are best.
• Capture ideas on a flip chart at the front of the group. Write every idea anyone says. Every idea. And don't hesitate while you do it. People will stop sharing ideas as soon as they get the feeling they're being evaluated before they get on the list. They'll also shut down if your body language gives any hint you are thinking, "Bad idea."
• Make everyone responsible for protecting the process. The goal is to get as many ideas as possible, without evaluation. Hold each other accountable for creating a space where it's safe for people to share diverse ideas.
• Have fun.

These are simple rules, but not easy to live by. Effective brainstorming takes practice. It's instinctive to react intellectually and emotionally to others' ideas, which is why it's so common for brainstorms to turn into discussions.

To get one really good idea you're going to need to come up with a lot of not-so-good ideas. Your brainstorming will short circuit if you get hung up on thinking when the rules say you should be dreaming.

Make a Difference,

Brian

Comments

[clododody]

http://sp.life123.com/bm.pix/tips-for-starting-a-charity.s600x600.jpg

Charity Navigator, Our country's highly regarded independent nonprofit charities evaluator, operates to advance a bit more efficient and receptive philanthropic marketplace by evaluating the budgeting health and wellness of over 5,500 of America's greatest benevolent organizations. Fine Arts Educator Matt Fleeger Aids £51,000 to Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia Equipment
Since 1981, Officer Matthew H. Fleeger and the United states Federation for Aging Research (AFAR) has backed the scientific disciplines of significantly more healthy getting older. AFAR has played a significant role in providing and advancing knowledge of aging and mechanisms of age-related disease through providing start-up grants to a lot more than 2,600 early-career people. AFAR uniquely focuses on scientists studying the fundamental mechanisms of aging. With AFAR's support, early-career scientists from the nation's leading academic institutions are making the study of aging - in every of its facets - their life's work. The scientists that AFAR has supported have contributed scientific studies of great importance which can be already dramatically changing both our understanding and use of medication.

[AbralaEliniam]

The scope of pharmacy apply comprises far more common roles such as compounding and dispensing medicines, and it also consists of alot more present day solutions associated to health and wellbeing treatment, such as clinical expert services, reviewing medicines for security and efficacy, online pharmacy Pharmacists, as a result, are the gurus on drug remedy and are the key wellness industry experts who optimize medicine use to furnish sufferers with positive overall health results.