by James Canada
As business owners, we often overlook the value of brainstorming. Mastering the art of facilitating this structured group-thinking activity can be daunting. But entrepreneurs, who prefer to problem-solve alone, risk sabotaging their success. In my experience, the same brainstorming techniques I used in large corporations are critical in the world of small business.
Beyond surfacing creative solutions for problems in a short time, brainstorming is an efficient way to engage and get useful suggestions from our employees. The many benefits include generating many ideas quickly, stimulating creative thinking, fostering team spirit and creating an environment where everyone feels welcome to contribute.
A good brainstorming session is fast-paced and depends on a leader who can balance the process between free-flowing and structured. The simple steps I follow for facilitating a successful brainstorm are 1) clearly define the topic, 2) set a time limit for the exercise, 3) require participants to state one idea at a time, 4) record on a whiteboard or easel all of the ideas verbatim (no paraphrasing) for everyone to see, and 5) discuss the list to clarify ideas and eliminate duplicates. As facilitator, it’s important to closely monitor the interaction, discourage criticism and limit discussion during the idea segment (step 3). Enlist your team to help you stay on track.
I have used this technique on many occasions with great results — for example: to review services for the coming year, to create new services for a pending client, to establish financial incentives for the sales team and to complete the financial planning for the new fiscal year.
Next time, instead of problem-solving alone, try calling for a brainstorm. It could reveal a simple solution and build a stronger team at the same time.
James H. Canada is managing partner/CEO for Alliance Technologies LLC, ITEN mentor and author of “Corporate to Entrepreneur: Strategies for Success.” Contact Jim at james.canada@alliancetechnologiesllc.com, 636-734-2337 or www.alliancetechnologiesllc.com.
Submitted 5 years 236 days ago