zero innovation
I have a couple of side projects and small groups I meet with. There are times, in meetings, when I want to hear all the wild and crazy ideas. Usually I am disappointed because folks filter the brainstorm. We end up with the same boring ideas and zero innovation. It makes me want to freak out when all I get are blank stares. (because I know you have something to say.) I know you are a creative human being. Please have just one idea and say something! I have to figure out how to crack this one. . .
I have crazy ideas with friends – usually over a drink. Those crazy ideas get refined into viable projects (of which I have three right now) but I have to figure out how to bring that same sort of anything goes into work meetings. I don’t want to be stuck doing the same things when we need to evolve and think in new ways. The youngest person in the group is 23, the oldest 54. There are very conservative, Christian, republicans sitting at the table with folks who don’t have religion and think Obama is great. There has to be an idea out there. Are they just afraid to say them in such a diverse group? Is our workplace culture one where ideas are not welcome? I have to reflect on this and also on how to change this.
If you knew how common your situation is! Some basic guidelines:
1. Traditional Brainstorms aren’t all that. Really. Science has shown it.
2. If you anticipate wanting to brainstorm, give guidelines to the team ahead of time.
3. If possible, have the ideas anonymously swapped and rexchange them amongst your team.
4. Let them brainstorm off those.
5. NOW, bring them together to discuss all the ideas.
There are other ways of doing the above but it gives you an idea. There are also physiologically based methods for releasing the creative juices when you get stuck. I’m working on an audio series that will discuss both the brainstorming issues mentioned above as well as the “releasing creativity” I spoke about.
Please let me know if I can help in any other way.