During the last few posts, Consultant Proficiency Resources (CPR) LLC provided a summary of creative ways to identify innovative solutions for your business. A component of identifying creative solutions comes in the form of brainstorming. Today, we will explore the fourth dimension of brainstorming, referred to as the Collaborative Brainstorming technique.
Collaborative brainstorming involves teams discussing ideas or brainstorming silently in groups for later conversations. The collaborative brainstorming technique fosters a team approach to sharing ideas while rendering constructive feedback. Let's explore seven of these techniques identified by Indeed. The summarized information can be found in the Indeed (Nov 2021) issue.
1-Medici Effect
The Medici Effect involves combining diverse strategies, concepts, disciplines, and industries to make connections between ideas that initially appear unrelated. When business teams apply the Medici Effect, they combine elements from different sources to develop new and innovative ideas for solving problems, making decisions, and planning projects.
2-Brain-netting
Brain-netting is brainstorming online and requires a collaborative platform that allows individuals to share ideas privately in addition to public cooperation among teams. Many software companies provide these types of applications, and businesses can set up company-wide environments and smaller team channels for breaking down department-specific processes.
3-Rapid ideation
Rapid ideation works effectively for business groups with limited time for brainstorming sessions. With this technique, a team leader provides context for team members, including questions on the topic, deadlines, budgets, resources, and other factors affecting project initiation. Then, the team leader sets a time limit for everyone to write down as many ideas as possible.
4-Group ideation
In group ideation sessions, teammates can share ideas and build on innovative concepts they come up with during brainstorming meetings. Group ideation is beneficial because it encourages open communication and feedback that can help throughout the development, production, and distribution of new products and services.
5-Round robin
This sharing technique is highly effective for business groups to add to one another's ideas and responses—the round-robin is a circle in a round-robin, with one person starting with the topic. Then, the team goes around the circle one by one so each member can offer their input while the team leader records everyone's ideas for later discussion.
6-Stepladder
The stepladder technique encourages individual reflection before team contribution. This brainstorming method works by gathering a team together to hear about a topic from the team leader. Once the team leader shares the topic, everyone leaves the room except for two team members, who discuss their ideas on the topic before one other member joins them. The new member shares their ideas with the original two, and this process repeats until everyone is back in the room.
7-Charette
The Charette technique is most effective for large groups because it allows them to brainstorm and combine ideas from several concepts. The first step of this process is for a large team to choose multiple topics to consider, then separate into smaller groups, each with a single topic to brainstorm. As each group completes its ideation process, the teams come back together to share their ideas and connect them all.
Consultant Proficiency Resources (CPR) LLC recommends applying 1-Rapid ideation and 2-Stepladder techniques for entrepreneurs. Rapid ideation involves a team leader communicating to team members about the process. These should be the initial steps taken before launching a brainstorming technique. Based on the problem identified, it's the role of the team leader to provide all necessary information such as deadlines, budgets, resources, and other factors related to the issue. The team leader instructs participants to write down as many ideas as possible. Drill down, select your top five, then narrow down to your top one or two solutions without squelching creativity.
The Stepladder technique sets a meeting for a more intimate setting and builds until the entire team returns to the room. Though a little time-consuming, this technique is most helpful if you have timid individuals on your team. If you consider this person a valued member, that person may be the first to meet with you after presenting the topic to the group. This individual shares without interference from your more assertive team members. Following the first round, another member joins your team. The new member shares their idea(s) with the original two, and this process repeats until everyone is back in the room.
Both techniques are inexpensive and practical investments for entrepreneurs. If you have not registered for your free 30 min virtual session with CPR LLC managing partner, you can do so via the website or email to workclimate@cprllcservices.com.
Warm Regards
CeeCee
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