Beauty ahead of Time - Global Mind set : Chapter 5: Brainstorming

Chapter 5: Brainstorming

Unleashing the power of the team

Brainstorming is one of the most effective techniques for bringing out synergy and creativity in teams and organizations. One of the main responsibilities of a competent manager is to hold regular brainstorming sessions to discuss operational improvements with his or her staff.  The creative potential of your people cannot be allowed to remain untapped.  You must provide an environment in which their ideas can be used to succeed. 

The brainstorming process

 There are six guidelines for conducting a brainstorming session that stimulates human creativity.

1. The ideal number of people in a group is between four and seven; if there are fewer than four, the number and quality of ideas tends to decrease; if there are more than seven, the session becomes too large and some people do not get the opportunity to demonstrate their best ideas; if there are more than seven, the session becomes too large and some people do not get the opportunity to demonstrate their best ideas.  When I conduct brainstorming sessions with large groups, I divide them into groups of four to seven people and share the overall ideas at the end of the session.   

2. The ideal time is between 15 and 45minutes.  30 minutes is optimal.  It is important to tell them at the beginning how long they have to brainstorm and to stop them at exactly that time.  The quality and quantity of ideas will be greatly increased if you allow them to develop towards the time limit. 

3.  The goal of brainstorming is to get as many ideas as possible in the time allowed.  There is a direct relationship between the quality and quantity of ideas generated.  Often a breakthrough idea that could transform the future of the organization is generated just before the end of the session. 

Brainstorming should be completely positive.  There is no judgement or evaluation of ideas.  

Every idea is a good one.  

Your goal should be to bring out the number of ideas, to praise and encourage even the most ridiculous ones.  

It’s not uncommon for two insane ideas to combine into a groundbreaking idea.  Have fun.  

Say something silly.  

Have a sense of humour.  

Try to get everyone to have fun.  

The more laughter there is in a session, especially if it is from silly ideas, the better and more numerous the ideas will be.  Aim to generate as many ideas as possible. Don’t think about whether they are good or not. 

4. Before the session, a leader should be appointed.  The leader has a special responsibility to ensure that everyone in the group gets a chance to speak.  

To ensure everyone is involved, the leader should go around the table and ask each person to speak before moving on the next topic.  This is a wonderfully effective process.  It is like starting the engine of a motorboat.  

Once the leader has been round the table, everyone will be actively involved.  Each person proposes ideas from all sides, gestures and struggles for time.  The leader’s task is to make sure the process is organized, to encourage each member to present their ideas, and to create opportunities to talk to each other.

5.    Each brainstorming session needs a secretary.  The task of the secretary is to write down everyone’s ideas, while participating in the process himself/herself.  In a very active session, there may be too many good ideas for one secretary.  

When I was brainstorming at BASF and other companies, we used to have a competition to see which group came up with the most ideas. “Competition” allows each person to focus on generating the most ideas without thinking about judgement or evaluation.

The nominal group method

The nominal group method is a simple but effective technique used in brainstorming (or mindstorming) to come up with creative answers to specific questions or problems.  

The simplest example of the nominal group method is the sentence completion method.  For example, try to complete the following three sentences by adding as many different sentences as possible. 

1.    If ______________, then we can double our sales in the next 90 days.

2.  If ______________, we can reduce our costs by up to 20 percent in transport and processing.

3.   If ______________, we will be the best in our industry.

Let’s go around the tale and complete these and different sentences.  Let’s assume that a logical and workable solution already exists, just waiting to be discovered.  Your task is to stimulate and bring out the best ideas from the members in the form of a sentence completion method.  If you do this on a regular basis, your member’s ability to think creatively will improve massively.  This is a great way to find solutions that right under your nose, but that you are not yet aware of.

Challenge　

☆Use the space available below to write your challenge 1,2 and 3 in detail. 

1.    Choose one problem or goal that, if solved or achieved, would make a big difference.

2.    Assemble a brainstorming team and explain the process.  Then elicit as many ideas as possible for solving the problem or achieving the goal.  You will be amazed at the results.

3.    Once you have an idea, write it down in a story.  Practice with the PASONA rule.  Write down the specific actions you want to take. 

P:Problem 

A:Agitation

S：Solution

N:Narrow down 

A:Action

Continued　to  Chapter Six:  The Key is Optimism

©Kelly, SPACES,INC. 

Kelly 

©Kelly Mizuno SPACES,INC.

2022年2月10日

With gratitude and appreciation,
Keiko, Kelly MIZUNO
日日是好日、2022年の毎日は良い日である様に
Have a wonderful rest of the day, everyone. Take care.