10 Deadly BrainStorming Ruts That
Kill Innovation
Are you stuck in a
“brainstorming” rut?
Most people
think they know how to brainstorm. Yet,
few realize there is more to brainstorming than the one traditional method that
Alex Osborn created in the 1950’s (yes, LAST century). A multitude of new methods, tools, and
techniques have been developed in recent years. Here are 10 of the most deadly brainstorming ruts that kill
innovation.
1. “KIA” – It’s the military acronym for
“Killed In Action”. Yet, KIA is also
my term for the surest way to “kill”
innovation… Know It Alls.
These are the folks that act as if there’s no room to grow or
learn. Arrogance in all forms (a lack
of openness to new ideas, current reality, or outside input) is a
“killer”. Being a lifelong learner is
essential to staying innovative. Don’t
get KIA by being a Know It All.
2. “Been There, Done That” - Almost everyone puts brainstorming in
a “box”. They don’t realize there are over
25 different brainstorming tools and techniques. Some work better with certain groups, projects or topics. Often the best tools are the ones YOU create
for your needs. S-T-R-E-T-C-H!
3. “MIA” - Most people have participated
in brainstorming sessions where a TON of ideas were generated. Then, everybody got up, walked out and…
NOTHING HAPPENED! This is what I call
“Missing In Action”. It’s critical to
quickly move to key Evaluation and Implementation techniques that capitalize on
team ownership, yet assign individual action steps. Don’t forget the Action!
4. “Failure Freeze” – Much of the
traditional management and educational environment is geared toward the ‘one
right answer’ philosophy. People are
scared to make a mistake, yet the ability to “engage” risk that includes the
possibility of failure is a vital component to innovation. Failure is an essential element of
success! If you want more success,
increase your failure rate!
5. “Blabbermouths Rule!” - Without a
trained facilitator, brainstorming sessions tend to be dominated by the loudest
or most outgoing participants. Quieter
team members can get run over, thus stifling some really great ideas. Due to social inhibitions, it’s usually not
the best idea to let the boss facilitate.
This is why new methods of brainstorming can be more effective.
6. “We Got Lost!” - A clear direction,
purpose, or goal for the session is ESSENTIAL!
Tangents are the norm and it takes critical pre-session planning and a
skilled facilitator to guide the discussion back to the goal without squelching
genuinely useful ideas. Knowing what’s
a rabbit trail and when to chase it is an important skill.
7. “Rear-View Living” – Spending too
much time focusing on the past in “Woulda, Coulda, Shoulda- Thinking” is
dangerous. Hindsight can offer great
insight into problems, failure, crisis, and disasters. Yet, “rear view living”, especially if it
turns into a blame game, is unproductive.
Focus on the Future!
8. “Meeting Nausea” – ‘We’re SICK of meetings’
is often the unspoken attitude… and justifiably so. A GREAT brainstorming session is totally different than a normal
‘meeting’. Make it an “experience” with
amazing results by thorough preparation including: a clear purpose, strategic pre-planning, a spirit of experimentation, a
‘grace-filled’ environment, and yes, even a good bit of fun and laughter.
9. “Bad Experience” – If you’ve ever had
food poisoning, you usually avoid the culprit food for quite some time. Yet, you don’t give up on food
altogether! If you’ve experienced a
toxic brainstorming session in the past (perhaps led by an untrained
facilitator or inhibiting boss), take some mental Pepto, get over it and try a
new approach.
10. “The
Fear Factor” – “I’m scared… What if we can’t solve the problem? What if someone else comes up with a better
idea than mine? What if someone
suggests an idea that means I might have to change?” Fear is still a driving force in stifling innovation, whether it
means personal or organizational growth.
Acknowledge your fear and then face it with renewed confidence.
Brainstorming,
in multiple forms, is one of the quickest ways to help you create an Invironment
of Innovation™ in your organization. Differently Think!
© 2003 John Storm
John Storm is The Idea Expert™ whose mission is to bring Your ideas to LIFE!™ His expertise focuses on helping people discover, evaluate and implement their ideas. You can find other resources at www.brainstormnetwork.org