Posts Tagged ‘brainstorm’

Turning Ideas into Action

Friday, March 6th, 2009

So, you’ve had a successful brainstorm and you’ve come up with a dynamite idea.  Great! Now, how do you take that idea and put it into action before your competition does?

Jump Right In

If you have a stroke of genius, chances are someone else has had the same idea.  Do some preliminary research to make sure you aren’t repeating someone else’s brilliance. Research will give you a better picture of the scope of your idea and what is needed to carry it out.   If you find that a similar idea is already in the works, try thinking of different spins you can take while keeping the core of the idea the same.  If you find that no one else is using your idea, get started right away before someone else does.
Get the right people.
Since people are the most important link in the business chain, having the right people to execute your idea is key.  Finding the right people requires diligence and a lot of thought.  Ask yourself the following questions.
  • What skills are needed to carry out your idea?
  • What members of your team possess those skills?
  • If you find a gap, what resources can you pull in from members of your network to fit your needs?
Create a plan and set goals.

Now that you have the right team in place, its time to create a master plan. Click here for an interactive workshop called “Creating a Strategic Plan.”  Your master plan should include:
  • A Mission Statement
  • An Inventory of Assets 
  • Goals and Objectives
  • Metrics for Measuring Success
  • A Budget
  • Steps to Reach your Goals
Delegate tasks and monitor progress.
Once you have  a plan, it’s time to put the it into action.  Delegating tasks will ensure productivity and accountability among your team. Match the skills for each step of your plan with the skills of your team members, keeping in mind the previously mentioned questions. Find or create tools to delegate tasks. 
Using the Metrics for Success you outlined in your plan, find ways to track the success of your idea or project.  Make sure that these measures for evaluation are quantifiable and repeatable.
Now that you have a team, a plan, and a means of measuring success, you are on your way to putting your brilliant idea into action.  Stay tuned for future Perks Consulting blogs about project management and how to make sure your plan is carried out productively.

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Brainstorming and Your Team

Monday, February 9th, 2009

Running into problems? Do you feel like you’re hitting the same brick wall over and over again? Try having a brainstorming session. By putting together the creative powers of your entire team, you may end up finding some surprising solutions to the same old problems. How do you motivate your team to get the best ideas in the least amount of time? Read on to find some quick tips about how to best utilize your next brainstorming session.

The term “brainstorm” was first coined by Alex F. Osborn, a prolific advertising manager of the 20th century. A brainstorm, by definition, consists of a panel of 10 to 12 people with a panel leader to keep ideas flowing and a scribe to take notes.

When he created the brainstorming system, Osborn created four basic parameters for brainstorming:

1.Don’t allow criticism
2. Support and encourage even the “craziest” ideas
3. Concern yourself with quantity of ideas; not quality
4. Don’t just focus on creating new ideas, but also on building upon old ones

Although Osborn’s rules for brainstorming have withstood the test of time, they don’t tell the whole story. With new business demands and new technology, it’s time to update these rules. So, here are four fresh tips for modern brainstorming.

Get some alone time.
Use the time before and after a brainstorming session to work individually. Arriving to a brainstorm prepared will increase productivity and hasten the flow of ideas. Giving yourself a few minutes after the brainstorm will help you take in what has just occurred, which may generate new ideas.

Update your recording system
Have the leader of your session use a dry erase board, overhead projector, or Power Point presentation to record everyone’s ideas in central place where everyone can view them. Jot down key words and ideas. Supply everyone on the panel with writing materials or a laptop and let everyone record their own notes instead of having a single designated recorder. This way, each person can leave with a set of notes that follows their particular train of thought.

Utilize a variety of techniques
Everyone’s minds work differently, so, what works well for one does not necessarily work well for all. Try different methods and figure out what works best for your team.

Be supportive of everyone’s ideas and brainstorming styles.
Being supportive could mean giving positive feedback, asking thought-provoking questions or even just making everyone comfortable. Using comfy chairs and providing water during a brainstorming session will encourage everyone to think about the problem at hand and not how thirsty or uncomfortable they are. Anticipate the physical needs of your panel members. Ease the pressure by buying pizza and making the environment one that is open to fun.

So, your brainstorming session has been successful, great! Now what? Stay tuned for more tips and tricks about how to put your ideas into action.

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