The Newsweek cover story for July 19th, 2010 is worth a read. It's entitled "Creativity Crisis."
The real value in the story comes on page 50 under the title "Forget Brainstorming". Most people don't like brainstorming sessions because of the lack of action and followup on "their" ideas. It's hard to get everyone involved and excited, and the sheer volume of ideas can be daunting.
The suggestion from the article is to have the individual, "Do something only you would come up with - that none of your friends or family would think of." What is interesting is that as soon as I read this suggestion, I had one I thought was better. Rather than having people start on an individual level I have always found it better to split people into groups and provide the groups with a problem, and a timeframe to think about the problem and come up with potential solutions. The problem provides the focus and the timeframe provides the action orientation.
The "I hear your idea and want to piggyback/hitchhike/improve on it" mentality is timeless. You just have to prime the pump and let people start talking.
In future meetings when suggestions or ideas are needed, present the problem, split the team into small groups and provide a timeframe. Great things will ensue.
Remember most people think they always have great ideas, it's just no one will listen to them.
I immediately thought of the group of teachers I work with at my international school. We've recently been casually talking about ways to improve the school on multiple levels. I like the advice: problem, small group, time frame. Though I'm no where near any official leadership position (i.e. school administration), I think I can apply this principle among the group of teachers. After all, someone has to start the fire and lead.
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