A New Improved Way to Get Ideas and Solutions

[CROWN COUNCIL]

We have had a brainstorming method for several years, long enough for someone to study it diligently and come up with an improvement on the system.  The improver is Bryan Mattimore, the author of Idea Stormers: How to Lead and Inspire Creative Breakthroughs.

 

He says that with brainstorming group members get stuck on the first reasonable idea mentioned, which may not be the best.  He recommends “Brainwalking.”  In this system, a large sheet of paper is taped on the wall of the meeting room for each participant.    Each person writes an idea on his/her sheet.  The papers (or the people) one sheet at a time are then rotated and add to each person’s. Let each participant add to the previous person’s sheet.

 

When that is finished and everyone has possession of his or her original sheet, each person  is asked to circle the one or two ideas he/she would like to have the whole group discuss.  This generates a lot of ideas very quickly and lets everyone contribute early in the meeting while minds are still fresh.  It also allows those who might feel intimidated in front of a group to make a contribution.  The best ideas are then discussed by the group.

 

The second method might be called “Whiteboarding” technique.  A large whiteboard and dry erase markers somewhere that customers or others won’t see them.  Invite workers to write their contributions on the board are placed.. This might be used in the home for family members to contribute ideas regarding family vacations or procedures.  The problem you would like to solve or a topic to be explored. is written at the top of  the board.   Add something yourself every day to keep it current and establish a deadline–10 days for instance.

 

Try these systems.  You may find you are a solutions genius.

 

Gregory B. Anderson–director      

[CROWN COUNCIL]

Yes.  I think you have it exactly.  This goes along in part with our "Six Thinking Hats" idea where you have to agree to certain ground rules up front about what kind of ideas are permitted...(ie: there are no bad ideas and you can't criticize another person's idea as long as we are in the "idea" phase)   Often times the loudest voice is the only one that gets heard.  Brainwalking is another way to allow everyone in the room to be heard before the loud voices begin.

[Brent Hicken]

Brainwalking is an interesting idea.  In thinking about this, is there a ground rule that you only write unique ideas on each sheet?  And these ideas may or may not build upon the other ideas that were already written on that sheet? 

For example, if the brainwalking session were on where to go on a family vacation and one person really wanted to go to Hawaii, that person could not just put "Hawaii" on each person's sheet.  Rather, he/she should try to come up with several ideas and put Hawaii on his/her own sheet and may choose to circle it later for discussion.  On other sheets he/she would put other ideas and could build on other's ideas where applicable (i.e. someone put "backbacking" as their idea the Hawaii person could write "backpacking on Oahu"). 

Am I understanding this idea correctly?