A. Brainstorming as a technique has been used very successfully by groups to develop as many ideas as possible without evaluating how practical the ideas might be. Group brainstorming is just one of many powerful  tools available to a facilitator. Experience and a broad body of peer-reviewed research on teams and organizations indicates that, when brainstorming sessions are managed right and skillfully linked to other work practices innovations are achieved.

The worst "brainstorms" happen when the term is used loosely, and the rules aren't followed-or known-at all. Perhaps the biggest mistake that leaders make is failing to keep quiet and let the group do its magic. The biggest mistake is for a leader to start a meeting saying, "Let's brainstorm" and then proceed to spend the next 30 minutes sharing their own rambling thoughts, without a single idea coming from the others in the room. Now that's productivity loss!

There are some very simple rules that have worked since Alex Osborn's original four: 1) Don't allow criticism; 2) Encourage wild ideas; 3) Go for quantity; 4) Combine and/or improve on others' ideas. These rules still work today in fact if they are not followed the leader will quickly lose credibility. Teams may vary the rules.  Two rules quite often added are: "One conversation at a time" and "Stay focused on the topic."

For more on Brainstorming Click Here

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Q. In the next five years my organization will be losing a significant number of leaders due to retirement, what can I do to develop myself now for taking on a leadership role?
 
A. Leadership is a key factor in achieving sustainable organizational success and business results. Our understanding of leadership has evolved significantly in the past decade. It is quite clear that leadership is about relationships, credibility, and more about what people do - than what they say. Most importantly, we have learned that leadership is a relationship between those who take their turn to responsibly lead a team and those who take their turn to follow. 

Leadership Is Learned
At one time experts believed that people were born leaders, we now know that much of what leaders do can be learned. Leadership is an observable set of skills and abilities that is useful whether one is in the executive suite or on the front line. You don't have to be a designated leader to practice leadership. And any skill can be strengthened, honed, and enhanced if we have the motivation and desire, the practice and feedback, the role models and coaching, and the support and recognition. Organizations are seeking powerful new tools and concepts to build the thinking skills, emotional skills and personal spirit of their leaders.
 
Leadership Development Is Self-Development
The best leaders are learners. It's not about speaking the loudest or appearing the strongest or being in front. It's about developing a sharing vision with the team. It's about being a good example, even in small ways. It's about encouraging others, even behind the scenes. It's asking questions and trying new ways of doing things. It's nurturing passion in others and in ourselves.
 
To learn more about a new innovative leadership learning tune-up for achieving high performance Click Here.

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A. A Team with healthy relationships among its members will be more productive and successful than a Team characterized by strife and tension. All Teams experience a certain amount of tension which is healthy and appropriate particularly during problem solving and decision making. Sometimes long standing highly productive Teams seem to unravel. One of the most basic of Teams processes problem solving and decision making seems to be at the root of this unraveling.
 
What Teams and Team members seem to forget, more important than winning any particular decision is the health of the relationships that we carry into the next decision. People must ask themselves: "Is it worth it to jeopardize a long term relationship in order to win a short term decision?" Maybe but not likely. Most times short term pain pays off in long term gain.

To learn more about other problem solving and decision making methods, tools and techniques available to improve team productivity Click Here.

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