Michael Starobin – 1AU
Global Media, LLC gave a brilliant presentation about creativity
in leadership at the Leadership
Breakfast of Maryland recently.
One question he asked:
'brainstorming' – is this a creative exercise?
And offered an
observation: “it stinks.”
WOW! This is popular
exercise for organizations – business and otherwise – all you
need is a flip chart to record what the group is saying. The
facilitator writes what's been said, sometimes asking for
clarification.
Unfortunately, the initial
results resemble a marching band that has no leader and no practice,
so each member does their own thing. Chaos!
IF
the group gets to problem solving, it is likely to be rushed in the
final 30 minutes of the
session
and may not be addressing the real problems at all.
Years ago I was meeting
with key managers about upgrading our network and computers and
trying to figure how to get the biggest bang for the buck. Money was
an issue (of course) but productivity was waning due to
network/hardware failure. My brainstorming group was moving steadily
to a three year phase-in of complete replacement, funded from cash
flow, when another manager stuck her head in the door to see what we
were up to. Hearing we were working on the problem of updating the
network without sufficient funds, she asked if we had considered
leasing the software/hardware.
BOING!!! We were
solving how to stretch cash, but she saw the problem as investing in
productivity and effectiveness. Switching gears, we got all the
equipment and solved the right problem as a result of that change in
focus.
Isn't it more useful to
charge the stakeholders with defining
the problem – getting a panoramic view of it from the group.
This output is not just a 30,000 foot overview, it includes specifics
about how the issues affect different parts of the organization and
its processes. That established, a solution to the problem can evolve
from the discussion.
Seems logical that
defining the problem and seeking a solution is the better path...so
why not travel this route?
Problem definition is not
fun stuff – it's hard work. And it's risky for the leader or
manager to be candid, since solving problems is at the top of their
job description – will they be blamed for not doing their job?.
On the other hand, the
facilitator and participants enjoy the BS of brainstorming –
shouting out first thoughts, coming up with would-be solutions
(“what's your first thought – no bad contribution here”),
having huge pages of notes taped all over the wall – it's a day of
thinking fast, responding verbally, and being agile in direction and
movement of the discussion – sounds like that marching
band.
Personally, we
get better results when we focus
on an issue, and ignore the other 'noise' around us. The
same applies when a group collaborates to identify and solve
problems.
Entertaining
experience – watch the Sales
Lab Video Channel
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