GROUP REFLECTION

GROUP REFLECTION

Group reflection or more commonly known as brainstorming can generate many radical and creative ideas.

How often have you used brainstorming to solve a problem? Chances are you've used it at least once, even if you didn't realize it. People have long used brainstorming to generate ideas and come up with creative solutions to problems.

However, you must use brainstorming correctly for it to be fully effective.

1. What is brainstorming?

Brainstorming combines a relaxed, informal approach to problem solving with an open mind, to encourage people to come up with thoughts and ideas that may, at first, seem a bit crazy.

Some of these ideas can be turned into original and creative solutions to a problem, while others can spark even more ideas. This way of working helps unblock people by allowing them to venture outside of their comfort zone.

Therefore, during brainstorming sessions, people should avoid criticizing or rewarding ideas. Here it is about being open to the possibilities and breaking down incorrect assumptions of the problem itself.

However, judgment and analysis at this stage should not slow down, idea generation and limit creativity.

Once the session is completed, it will be a question of evaluating the ideas resulting from the meeting, in order to further explore the solutions using more conventional approaches.

2. Why use brainstorming?

Conventional group problem solving can, often be undermined by unhelpful group behavior.

And, while it's important to start with a structured, analytical process of problem solving, doing so can lead to a group developing limited and unimaginative ideas.

In contrast, brainstorming provides a free and open environment that encourages everyone to participate.

Original ideas are welcomed and developed, and all participants are encouraged to contribute fully, helping them to develop a rich array of creative solutions.

When used during problem solving, brainstorming brings into play the diversity of experiences of team members. This increases the richness of ideas explored, which means you can often come up with better solutions to the problems you face.

It can also help you get buy-in from team members for your chosen solution, after all, they're likely to be more engaged with an approach if they've been involved in its development.

Plus, because brainstorming is fun, it helps the team members’ bond as they solve problems in a positive and nurturing environment.

Although brainstorming can be effective, it is important to approach it with an open mind and a non-judgmental spirit. If you don't, people « Shut up, » the number and quality of ideas drop, and morale can suffer.

3. Instructions for use!

You often get better results by combining individual and group brainstorming, which we explain below, and managing the process according to the « rules » below.

By doing this, you can get people focused on the problem without interruption, you maximize the number of ideas you can generate, and you get that great sense of team cohesion that comes with a well-run brainstorming session!

To effectively organize a group brainstorming session, follow these steps.

a. Prepare the group: how much information or preparation does your team need to brainstorm solutions to your problem?

Remember that preparation is important, but frame it enough, so as not to destroy the free nature of a brainstorming session.

First, choose an appropriate and comfortable meeting space. It can be in the office or virtual. Consider what would work best, for your team. Make sure you have the right resources beforehand.

You can use virtual brainstorming tools like Miro or LucidSpark, and you'll need pens, and Post-it Notes for an in-person session.

Now consider who will attend the meeting. A brainstorming session bringing together like-minded people will not generate as many creative ideas as a diverse group, so try to include people from a wide range of disciplines and include people who have a variety of thinking styles.

When everyone is reunited, appoint someone to record ideas from the session. This person should not necessarily be the team leader. It is difficult to register and contribute at the same time.

Post notes where everyone can see them, like on flip charts, whiteboards, or use a computer with a data projector.

Make a habit of opening the session with a fun activity to break the ice, especially if people are not used to working together. A relaxed atmosphere is always conducive to a good brainstorming session.

b. Introduce the problem: clearly define the problem you want to solve and state the criteria you must meet. Make it clear that the purpose of the meeting is to generate as many ideas as possible.

Give participants a quiet moment at the beginning of the session to generate as many ideas as they can. Then ask them to share or pitch their ideas, while giving everyone a fair chance to contribute.

c. Guide, the discussion: once everyone has shared their ideas, start a group discussion to expand on others' ideas and use them to create new ideas. Building on the ideas of others is one of the most valuable aspects of group brainstorming.

Encourage everyone to contribute and develop ideas, including the quieter people, and discourage anyone from criticizing ideas.

As the group facilitator, you should share ideas if you have any, but devote your time and energy to supporting your team and guiding the discussion.

Stick to one conversation at a time and refocus the group if people wander off.

Although you are guiding the discussion, remember to let everyone have fun while brainstorming.

Welcome creativity and encourage your team to come up with as many ideas as possible whether practical or impractical.

Use thought experiments such as provocation through encouragement and engagement or use a random word, image or even sound to open up new lines of thought.

Don't follow one line of thought for too long. Be sure to generate a big quantity of different ideas and explore individual ideas in detail. If a team member needs to « step back » to explore an idea on their own, allow them the freedom to do so.

Also, if the brainstorming session is prolonged, take plenty of breaks, so people can recover to better continue thinking.

4. Individual brainstorming: although group brainstorming is often more effective at generating ideas than normal group problem solving, several studies have shown that individual brainstorming produces more ideas and often better ideas than group brainstorming. This can happen because groups aren't always strict about brainstorming rules and bad behavior creeps in.

Most of the time, however, this happens because people pay so much attention to others that they either don't generate ideas on their own or forget about their ideas while waiting for their turn to speak. This is called. « Idea blocking. »

When you think for yourself, you don't have to worry about other people's ego or opinions, and you can be freer and more creative. For example, you may find that an idea you would be hesitant to bring up in a group turns into something special when you explore it on your own.

However, you may not fully develop your ideas when you are alone because you don't have the experience of other group members to draw on.

Remember that individual brainstorming is most effective when you need to solve a simple problem, generate a list of ideas, or focus on a general problem. Group brainstorming is often more effective in solving complex problems.

5. The next step - take action!

After your individual or collective brainstorming session, you will have plenty of ideas.

While it may seem difficult to sort through these ideas to find the best ones, analyzing these ideas is the next important step.

This is for you to organize ideas and find common themes by looking at ideas from different angles and thus help you choose options, especially when the differences between options are rather subjective.

Finally, when brainstorming is handled well, it can help you generate radical solutions to problems. It can also encourage people to engage with solutions because they have contributed and played a role in their development.

Also, remember that the best approach combines individual and collective brainstorming and during the process there should be no criticism of ideas and creativity should be encouraged.

Recommended reading and references

We suggest that you consult the works identified below in order to learn more about the particularities contained in this chapter.

ADAM, Scott. SLAPPED TOGETHER. THE DILBERT BUSINESS ANTHOLOGY. Harper Press. ISBN 0-06-018621-6.

BARKLEY, Bruce T. & SAYLOR, James H. CUSTOMER-DRIVEN PROJECT MANAGEMENT: Building Quality into Project Process. McGraw Hill. ISBN 0-07-136982-1.

BRINCKERHOFF, Peter C. MISSION-BASED MANAGEMENT. Wiley & Sons. ISBN 9-780471-390-138.

DE SCHIETÈRE, J.C. & TURCOTTE, P.R. LA DYNAMIQUE DE LA CRÉATIVITÉ DANS L’ENTREPRISE : Perspectives et problèmes psychologiques. Les presses de l’Université de Montréal. ISBN 0-8405 0357-1.

LOGAN, John R. EVOLUTION NOT REVOLUTION: Aligning Technology with Corporate Strategy to Increase Market Value. McGraw Hill. ISBN 0-07-138410-3.

MAURER, Rick. CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE: For Partnership a Leadership Guide in the Workplace. Productivity Press, Oregon. Library of Congress.

MILLER, J. Gloria & All. A TEAM APPROACH TO MAXIMIZING COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE. Wiley Books. ISBN: 0-470-04447-0