A fast, effective way to generate group creativity and problem-solving

Brainstorming & Idea Creation

By Brian Tracy

www.BrianTracy.com

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BRAINSTORMING AND IDEA CREATION

here are wonderful creative thinking techniques you can use to get everyone thinking better in your organization. Brainstorming allows you to harness the best ideas of everyone to make the company better.

The keys to brainstorming are simple. First, the problem or question should be stated clearly and simply so that it is understood by each participant. Take a little time to discuss the problem questions, and then write it on a flip chart. This will dramatically increase the quality of answers generated. The aim of the brainstorming session should be to generate the most ideas possible within a specific period of time. An effective session will last anywhere from 15 to 45 minutes, and 30 minutes is usually ideal. The best number of participants for a brainstorming session is between four to seven people. Any less than four, and you run the risk of not having enough stimulation. Any more than seven, and you may find that there is insufficient opportunity for everyone to contribute. Each brainstorming session requires a group leader. The role of the leader is to keep the ideas as free-flowing as possible. The group leader is a stimulator of ideas, encouraging each person to speak up with anything he or she has to contribute. The most important rule of brainstorming is to avoid evaluating the ideas during the process. The focus is on quantity, not quality. Evaluation and discussion of the ideas will take place at a separate session, away from the original brainstorming.

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There should also be a recorder at each session. This person will write down every idea as it is generated so that the list can be typed up and circulated at a later time. The real keys to successful brainstorming are positive emotions, laughter, ridiculous ideas, and absolutely no criticism of any kind. The group leader needs to ensure that no one says anything that throws water on the ideas of anyone else. When I conduct brainstorming sessions, I find that the best way to get going is to first agree on the question or problem, and second, to go around the table one by one. Pretty soon, everyone will start to contribute and the session is off and running. When it comes to evaluating the ideas in a later session, it can be helpful to bring together an entirely different group of people. This group will consider the ideas without the ego involvement and emotional attachment of the original group. As a result, they will be able to assess the ideas far more objectively. The amazing thing about brainstorming is that virtually any group can come up with an incredible number of ideas when stimulated by this method. And you can never tell which ideas are going to provide the breakthrough solution that you need. So aim for quantity. The more ideas you generate, the greater the likelihood that you will have exactly the idea that you need at exactly the right time. By practicing mindstorming and brainstorming on a regular basis, you can unleash a torrent of ideas that will enable you to accomplish your goals faster than you ever believed possible. Today, in the information age, ideas are the most valuable tools of production. And since your ability to generate innovative, effective, usable ideas is virtually unlimited, your future is unlimited as well.

Brian Tracy. All rights reserved. The contents, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form for any purpose without the written permission of Brian Tracy.

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Now, here are three things you can do immediately to put these ideas into action: First, dont delay. Bring together three or more people immediately and conduct a brainstorming session. Put the question or problem on a whiteboard or flip chart and go for it! Second, make it a game to see how many ideas the group can generate within a specific time period. Focus on quantity, not quality. Third, analyze the ideas later and take action on the good ones. The more ideas that are implemented, the more ideas people will come up with.

Brian Tracy. All rights reserved. The contents, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form for any purpose without the written permission of Brian Tracy.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

rian Tracy is Chairman and CEO of Brian Tracy International, a company specializing in the training and development of individuals and organizations.

Brians goal is to help you achieve your personal and business goals faster and easier than you ever imagined. Brian Tracy has consulted for more than 1,000 companies and addressed more than 5,000,000 people in 5,000 talks and seminars throughout the US, Canada and 56 other countries worldwide. As a Keynote speaker and seminar leader, he addresses more than 250,000 people each year. He has studied, researched, written and spoken for 30 years in the fields of economics, history, business, philosophy and psychology. He is the top selling author of over 50 books that have been translated into dozens of languages. He has written and produced more than 500 audio and video learning programs, including the worldwide, best-selling Psychology of Achievement, which has been translated into more than 20 languages. He speaks to corporate and public audiences on the subjects of Personal and Professional Development, including the executives and staff of many of Americas largest corporations. His exciting talks and seminars on Leadership, Selling, Self-Esteem, Goals, Strategy, Creativity and Success Psychology bring about immediate changes and longterm results. He has traveled and worked in over 90 countries on six continents, and speaks four languages. Brian is happily married and has four children. He is active in community
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and national affairs, and is the President of three companies headquartered in Solana Beach, California. Brian is the president of Brian Tracy International, a company that helps individuals and businesses of all sizes achieve personal and professional goals. To learn more about Brian Tracy, please visit www.briantracy.com/AboutBrian. If you have any questions about Brian Tracy learning programs and services, please email Support@BrianTracy.com or call 1-858-436-7300. Brian Tracy International 462 Stevens Ave. Suite 305 Solana Beach, CA 92075

Brian Tracy. All rights reserved. The contents, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form for any purpose without the written permission of Brian Tracy.