Encouraging Innovation Through Team Brainstorming

I’ve been a huge fan of Tom Fishburne for years since we were classmates at Harvard Business School. Tom started drawing cartoons on the backs of HBS business cases, which evolve to become his famous and insightful Sky Deck cartoons.  I was always on the lookout for them. I invite my connections across all industries to subscribe to Tom’s insightful newsletter. Last week’s issue particularly resonated with me. Tom highlighted that labeling an idea as polarizing can quickly kill it, as businesses usually avoid such ideas in favor of safer, more universally appealing ones. However, there’s power in polarization. Trying to appeal to everyone often results in appealing to no one. In a cluttered world, the last thing a company can afford is to create indifference. Several years ago, I was helping the innovation group of a large carrier and saw firsthand the graveyard of idea killers. Many innovative ideas, often originating from those in the field who directly experience pain points, did not make it past the first round of evaluation. To help this carrier effectively evaluate innovative ideas and develop a repeatable process, we implemented a few key strategies: 1. Idea Champion Program: We assigned champions to promising ideas to advocate for them, gather feedback, and iterate on the concepts. 2. Cross-Functional Evaluation Committees: We created committees with members from various departments to ensure diverse perspectives in idea evaluation. 3. Fail Fast, Learn Faster: We encouraged a culture where failure is acceptable as long as we learn from it quickly. Prototyping and piloting ideas in controlled environments helped us make informed decisions. 4. Customer-Centric Approach: We focused on ideas that directly addressed customer/staff pain points, involving these stakeholders early in the development process. 5. Regular Review Cycles: We established regular review cycles for all submitted ideas to ensure they received proper attention. By implementing these strategies, we helped the carrier create an environment where innovative ideas could thrive. This process not only brought new solutions to the market but also fostered a culture of creativity and continuous improvement. Remember, the goal is not to avoid polarization but to harness it. Great ideas often provoke strong reactions, and that’s where their power lies. By creating a structured process to evaluate and nurture these ideas, we can ensure that they have the opportunity to make a significant impact. https://lnkd.in/eWfV_a-t

Forget top-down decision-making. Collaboration is the ultimate problem-solving superpower. It amplifies perspectives. It sparks innovation. It builds solutions that stick. Here’s 11 ways collaborative voices can revolutionize your solutions: 1/ Diverse Perspectives: Unlock Hidden Angles → Every voice brings unique insights to the table. → From frontline workers to execs, varied viewpoints spot blind spots. 💡 Leaders: Host cross-functional brainstorms to capture diverse ideas. 2/ Collective Creativity: Ignite Breakthrough Ideas → Collaboration fuels sparks that solo thinkers miss. → Group dynamics turn good ideas into game-changers. 💡 Teams: Use ideation tools to crowdsource creative solutions. 3/ Shared Ownership: Build Buy-In from the Start → When voices shape the solution, commitment follows. → Co-creation ensures everyone’s invested in success. 💡 Managers: Involve teams early in planning to foster accountability. 4/ Real-Time Feedback: Refine Ideas on the Fly → Collaborative rooms catch flaws before they grow. → Instant input sharpens solutions in real time. 💡 Teams: Use platforms like Slack for quick, open feedback loops. 5/ Cultural Alignment: Solutions That Reflect Values → Inclusive voices ensure solutions fit the organization’s ethos. → They bridge gaps between strategy and culture. 💡 Leaders: Invite voices from all levels to align solutions with core values. 6/ Problem-Solving Agility: Adapt Faster Together → Collaborative teams pivot quickly when challenges arise. → Shared knowledge speeds up course corrections. 💡 Teams: Run agile sprints with diverse contributors to stay nimble. 7/ Knowledge Sharing: Amplify Expertise → Every voice adds specialized know-how to the mix. → Collective wisdom outperforms individual expertise. 💡 Managers: Create knowledge hubs for teams to share insights. 8/ Conflict as Catalyst: Turn Tension into Progress → Differing opinions spark deeper exploration. → Healthy debate refines solutions to their strongest form. 💡 Leaders: Foster safe spaces for constructive disagreement. 9/ Inclusive Decision-Making: Solutions That Serve All → Voices from all corners ensure equitable outcomes. → Inclusive processes build trust and fairness. 💡 Teams: Use anonymous voting tools to democratize decisions. 10/ Momentum Through Motivation: Energize the Room → Collaborative environments inspire action. → Shared purpose drives teams to execute with passion. 💡 Managers: Celebrate collective wins to keep morale high. 11/ Scalable Solutions: Built to Last → Solutions shaped by many are robust and adaptable. → They withstand scrutiny and evolve with needs. 💡 Leaders: Document collaborative processes to replicate success. Collaboration redefines problem-solving by blending voices into solutions that are smarter, stronger, and more sustainable. __________ ♻️ Repost if your network needs these reminders. Follow Carolyn Healey for real-world leadership insights.

Ever found yourself facing a team that might not naturally be considered "creative," but you know deep down there's untapped potential waiting to be ignited? That's where the real magic happens – when you transform a group of individuals into a powerhouse of innovation! Here are a few strategies to nurture creativity in even the most unexpected places: 1️⃣ Diverse Perspectives: Embrace the beauty of diversity within your team. Different backgrounds, experiences, and skill sets can create a melting pot of ideas that spark innovation. 2️⃣ Encourage Curiosity: Cultivate a culture of questioning and curiosity. Challenge your team to explore the "what ifs" and "whys" to uncover new solutions. 3️⃣ Collaborative Storming: Gather your team for brainstorming sessions. Fostering an environment where no idea is too outrageous encourages free thinking and inspires unique concepts. 4️⃣ Cross-Pollination: Encourage your team to draw inspiration from unrelated fields. Sometimes, the most innovative solutions come from connecting seemingly unrelated dots. 5️⃣ Empower Ownership: Give individuals ownership of projects and allow them to take creative risks. When people feel their ideas matter, they're more likely to contribute their creative juices. 6️⃣ Learning from "Fails": Embrace failure as a stepping stone to success. Encourage your team to share their failures and lessons learned – these experiences often lead to innovative breakthroughs. 7️⃣ Structured Creativity: Implement frameworks like Design Thinking or Ideation Workshops. These structured approaches can guide your team to think creatively within a defined framework. 8️⃣ Celebrating Small Wins: Recognize and celebrate every small burst of creativity. This positive reinforcement encourages more innovative thinking. 9️⃣ Mentorship and Learning: Pair up team members with differing strengths. Learning from each other's expertise can lead to cross-pollination of ideas. 🔟 Lead by Example: Show your own passion for creativity. When your team sees your enthusiasm for innovation, it's contagious! Remember, creativity is not exclusive to certain roles or industries – it's a mindset that can be nurtured and cultivated. So, let's harness the potential within our teams, empower individuals to think outside the box, and watch as innovation unfolds before our eyes! #InnovationAtWork #whatinspiresme #culture #teamwork #CreativeThinking #TeamCreativity #LeadershipMindset #bestweekever