Try It Out On Your Team First
Wow! You're brilliant! You have a great idea. You've looked at it every possible way to find holes in your logic, fallacies in your assumptions. You know it will work and you can't wait to turn your new brainstorm loose then reap the rewards of your genius. I know you're excited but before you unleash your great idea, first try it out on those around you for analysis, discussion, improvements, and (gasp!) criticism.
The problem is that the creator of an idea rarely has the mental discipline, the insight, and ability to view their idea objectively. They are blinded by the excitement, the energy, and the optimism created by their creativity. Very few great ideas are flawless, some are seriously terrible, most need at least some tweaking, honing and polishing before they enter the marketplace of commerce.
Your staff and others close to you are well suited to be an evaluation team and part of the creative process because they will look at this new initiative through eyes unclouded by your optimism and enthusiasm if you request their effort in a manner that elicits their input in an "idea improvement" process. Be warned however that the way you prepare them to offer their critique is critical. Don't cloud their judgment by presenting your brainstorm in terms that will set them up to placate you, stroke you, or otherwise attempt to satisfy your ego. Present it to them in a matter-of-fact manner: "I'm thinking of pursuing this project and I'd appreciate you're your input" will get your audience in a more objective mood than, "I've just come up with the greatest idea I've ever had!"
If you lay out your logic, the improvements, features and benefits of your great idea without embellishment then sit back and listen to the alternative views the team offers, basic flaws or minor tweaks for improvement will possibly be discovered. Try your brainstorm out on your team, stand back and watch it improve.
Larry Galler coaches and consults with high-performance executives, professionals, and small businesses since 1993. He is the writer of the long-running (every Sunday since November 2001) business column, "Front Lines with Larry Galler" Sign up for his free newsletter at http://www.larrygaller.com
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Take Your Firm to the Next Level
So you did such a good job in 2003 at... Read More
Innovation Management ? Rigorous data analysis
Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More
Spotlight on Productivity: How to Overcome E-Mail Overload
Do you ever feel overwhelmed by e-mail? Have you ever... Read More
How to Create Trust
People buy from you, offer help, and grant rewards based... Read More
Lessons From Innovative Companies
What do the companies 3M, Polaroid, and Walt Disney have... Read More
Manufacturing Capacity as a Commodity
Excess capacity in an automobile plant at Ford, Chrysler, Toyota,... Read More
Rethinking the CEO-Chairman Split
Traditionally, in American businesses, the same person occupies the role... Read More
Having Your Phil
February 2nd, at approximately 7:30 a.m. local time on Gobbler's... Read More
Outsourcing Quiz: Cheap Vs. Good
Someone can say, 'Why do you oppose this?' So I'd... Read More
Innovation Management: The Time Factor
Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More
ISO 9001 2000, Getting Started on The Route To Registration
ISO 9001 2000, Getting startedBefore starting the ISO 9001 2000... Read More
Your Appraisal System Can Be Better ? Overcome These Nine Serious Failings
This article is directed at senior managers. As a senior... Read More
Employee Surveys: a Strategic Tool for Positive Change
Do you want to measure your workers' level of satisfaction?... Read More
Executive ESP: A Pathway to Success!
We all have psychic abilities that we use daily, although... Read More
Cheat Sheet; Understanding The MSDS and Your Obligations In The Workplace To Employees
MSDS SHEETSMSDS stands for Material Safety Data Sheets. MSDS sheets... Read More
Saying ?No? Gracefully to Customers and Colleagues
Envision the scenario: You've just been asked at the last... Read More
7 Steps To Hire The Best
You can use this step-by-step method to hire applicants who... Read More
Improving Patient Sensitivity in Doctors and Hospital Staff
COMPANY/ORGANIZATIONA South Florida hospital. The CEO of the hospital saw... Read More
Five Overlooked Ways To Hire Winners
Here is a true story. My dentist did a "clinical"... Read More
Be a Change Agent ( Part 1)
Aligning business organizations to be successful in the present and... Read More
A Checklist for Organized Executives
I could begin this article by providing a checklist of... Read More
Innovation Management and Brainstorming Management ? why people hate to brainstorm!
Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More
Hire Winners: Ask the Right Questions
How do you as a manager, supervisor or team leader... Read More
Getting to Consensus
The need to get people in an organization to pull... Read More
How To Delegate for Fun and Profit
Ah, the wretched pain of delegation. It comes easy to... Read More
Creativity and Innovation Management: The Value Of Due Diligence
Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More
Measure for Measure
Can you imagine playing hockey without a goal? Basketball without... Read More
The Seven Cs: Partnership Danger Signs - The 5th C: Control Issues
A series of articles exploring the seven critical areas that... Read More
Change Management: Avoid Havoc In Very Uncertain Times
Escalating gas prices...tensions and turmoil in the Middle East...a struggling... Read More
Increasing the Return on Your Training Investment
Insightful leaders and organizations recognize that training is a valuable... Read More
Budgets!
Budgets! There I've said it. For some the most hated... Read More
The Compliance Officers Killer Application
It used to be that only the largest multi-nationals needed... Read More
What Every Manager Should Know About How to Reduce the High Cost of Employee Absenteeism
Employers pay a high price for absenteeism, often more than... Read More
Using Outlook to Count Responses
Here's a productivity tip that will save you a lot... Read More
Character: Is It Necessary In Leadership? (Part One)
We know character when we see it, but what exactly... Read More
Presenteeism: The Hidden Costs of Business
(prez.un.TEE.iz.um) nPresenteeism, a relatively unknown concept, is the complement of... Read More
Hire People For What They Do Best
I recently flew from Seattle to Atlanta, I realized, just... Read More
Why and How to Work with a Consultant
A good consultant provides specialist abilities and experience, innovative ideas,... Read More
Is Your Business Healthy?
Most business owners I work with want to grow their... Read More
Islam in the Workplace
Suggested practice for HR personnelMuslims now form one of the... Read More
Selecting Top Talent: Improve Your Batting Average
I recently gave a presentation to a group of business... Read More
Effective Multi Cultural International Business Meetings
Of the many areas in international business where cultural differences... Read More
Turbo-Charge Your Rollout with ERM
Employees are the often-neglected stakeholders in the success or failure... Read More
Leadership Skills Means Turnover is Not a Problem
"Ha!" you say. "For someone to make a statement like... Read More
Reducing the High Cost of Absenteeism
Employers pay a high price for absenteeism, often more than... Read More
Uncovering the Secrets to Effective Performance Management
In many ways there are no secrets to implementing effective... Read More
Leadership Skill: How to Handle Difficult Conversations
A good leader has the ability to empower others. It... Read More
Employee Turnover: Is It Eating Up Your Profits?
Keeping the cost of doing business down, yet providing a... Read More
Allowing Employees Responsibility
Merely assigning a task with detailed instructions is not effective... Read More
The Email Trap
If you sit at a computer for most of the... Read More
Towards Intercultural Understanding
An individual's ability to forge effective relationships across cultures is... Read More
Employee Success! - 7 Ways Feedback Works
By sharing how well you are doing and how well... Read More
Training Managers and New Trainers
Training managers use many of the same interpersonal and analytical... Read More
Dissenion Down On The Cubicle Farm
How content and satisfied are American employees? Not very!According to... Read More
Making Change Work
Shaky FoundationsWhilst over 60% of businesses will be looking to... Read More
From Boring to Interesting - Making Training Effective
Being a good trainer requires experience and skill. Experience comes... Read More
Turbo Charge Your Career With The Most Powerful Leadership Tool Of All: The Leadership Talk Part 3
To develop and deliver a great Leadership Talk, you must... Read More
How To Get 10% More Work Out Of Your Employees
It is getting harder to run a business for a... Read More
Controlling Your Cash Flow
IntroductionAre you looking for a way to gain control of... Read More
Making Meetings Work
We have all attended meetings that were boring, mindless and... Read More
Creativity and Innovation Management: The Value Of Due Diligence
Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More
Creativity and Innovation Management: The Creative State
Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More
Listening Strategically
Usually, we're most interested in communicating outwardly; getting our messages... Read More
What Makes a Crisis a Crisis?
If you're old enough and were living in America about... Read More
Organizing The Information
Putting a piece of paper in a file folder is... Read More
ISO 9001 What Records Does My Business Need To Keep?
Which documents must I keep for ISO 9001?In addition to... Read More
Business Management |