Idea Power..........Professional Leadership in Facilitating and Motivation Idea Power for Lodging, Food and Beverage, Real Estate, & General Business We supply the energy, organization, and documentation. In determining the purpose consider the problem or opportunity that is before you as an example, you may wish to add value to product or services thereby increasing bottom line revenues. Although, that this in itself is an important factor there may also exist operational problems that need to be addressed that are underlying causes that in themselves are purposes for such a meeting. When brainstorming judgment is suspended to better facilitate the flourishing of copious and bold ideas, it truly is very much a team effort the ideas belong to no one and come from anywhere. Collect as many ideas as possible No criticism or pre-judgments allowed Build on ideas from others As stated, you may profit from it by improving product and service, as a manager of a group it is in your interest to promote better creativity and certainly cooperation within your group. The participatory method that you will benefit from will also greatly impact and enhance morale increasing efficiency from all concerned. By utilizing ideas from the entire group, a positive culture and a better work environment will result. Just think, if you developed new ways or improved methods in making money through everyone's participation. What if you doubled your productivity, cut down paperwork and ended or curtailed bureaucracy. Our report will outline the entire meeting we will organize the details while separately spelling out the priorities that were relevant and agreed to. Yes, all the leg work will be done by the Facilitator. Unparallel Results that stem from Brainstorming More Money Faster Promotions Better Working Environment Better Employee Relations More Responsive Company New Products and Services Less Conflicts and arguments Better Management Creating New Markets Target Subject Matter, Define the problem or issue. Write out the problem or issue concisely and make sure that everyone understands and is in agreement to the way it is worded. If issue is very broad, breakdown into smaller topics. The facilitator will take control of the session defining the problem with the group and soliciting their participation. Write down a brief description of the subject matter. Write down the criteria that is desired. Present Warm-up Topic, Ask for Ideas, Suggestions, and Exchange. Encourage elaborating on ideas. Combine an idea. Solicit an enthusiastic, non-critical attitude among individuals and make it fun while encouraging wild and exaggerated ideas, silly ideas often turn into the best creative ones. Quantity counts at this stage and not that of defining quality. We can always narrow down the list later. When the idea list is large, and grows larger, it generally speaking, results in more of an advantageous and significant outcome. Build on ideas that have been put forth by others by expanding them with extra thoughts. Use the ideas as an inspiration for your own suggestion. As you shout out your ideas also remain a good listener, as creativity will flourish. Seek to literally combine idea with other ideas where applicable but refrain from negating the original idea from the list. All ideas, from each of you will be treated with equal value through the entire process although, some ideas may appear or seem particularly exciting please refrain from making them a favorite until we complete the idea search process. Let us remember that our job is to come up with ideas! Ending the Session When wrapping up and before leaving it is here that most often things are forgotten as attendees are eager to leave and conclude and also the mind is usually at this point on overload, this is the time for clear thinking. Post-session work and idea analysis data A large volume of scattered ideas need to be organized in a cohesive manner and made available to other people in the organization, which will encourage their participation in the process. Although, technically speaking the brainstorming has concluded and it is now time for the analytical process to begin recognizing that brainstorming alone is only the generation of ideas and that without analysis it will be pointless to proceed. Clarke and Associates….Idea Power will conduct an initial sort-out to remove duplicates and to separate the impractical ones listing these separately (these ideas that may seem completely illogical or nonsensical yet they may indeed have some purpose, should not be discarded as they could become valid) so that it will be easier to focus on, and that the most logical and relevant ideas can become organized targeted objectives. Contact: jpeterclarke@earthlink.net