No single person has all the answers. In creative problem solving and idea generation, collaborating with a group (like a Success Team or Mastermind Group) allows you to feed off of the energy, experience and creativity of others.
Following is a short video on the power of collaboration. John Sweeney is a leader in organizational development and innovation and a member of the National Speakers Association. John also teaches improv and comedy skills/techniques and is a keynote speaker.
John makes an excellent point when sharing that a great benefit of brainstorming is the transformation from “reaction” to “idea.” If you’ve ever been in an effective group brainstorming session, you know the power of this point and that the positive energy generated from brainstorming can be both exciting and contagious!
I am a huge believer in group brainstorming and can vouch for the following Six Sigma guidelines for effective brainstorming:
- Keep everyone engaged in the process by making it clear that there are no bad/dumb ideas. Remind everyone that brainstorming is about sharing ideas, not making decisions.
- Prohibit everyone from criticizing the ideas and suggestions of others during the brainstorming session.
- Use other people’s ideas as building blocks for new ideas. For example, you can take just one idea and continue to expand on it, aiming for ridiculous, absurd, expensive, impossible! You will be surprised at what “doable” ideas surface during this process.
Remember, brainstorming is about gathering as many ideas as possible: quantity vs. quality.
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Today’s Question for Your UpwardAction®
How can group brainstorming accelerate an aspect of your business or career?
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Let us know what you came up with and how it might accelerate your success!
Remember …. You’ve Got to Give to Receive!
All the best,
Coach T.C.
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{ 1 comment… read it below or add one }
A good word that describes exactly what you are talking about is synergy - The COMBINED effect is greater then the sum of the individual effects. I am a huge believer in the saying two heads are better then one. On that note - it might be helpful to let you know that the folks at iLinc have put together incredible virtual meeting software that allows people to come together and collaborate from anywhere in the world. It’s really helpful when you could use some synergy
Thanks for the great post and I’m right there with you!
Cheers,
Jessica
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