During a break in a course, a participant says: “I like the way we interact during the course, especially how you challenge us to find solutions to the situations we face.”
Indeed, I really enjoy challenging participants, and I do it whenever I have the opportunity, because I have experienced firsthand how valuable it feels when the strategy I choose comes from my own ideas and experiences. What I do exactly in the course is a simple brainstorming exercise. This exercise becomes very valuable in teams because it enhances the efficiency of meetings by generating new ideas and creative solutions.
There are many situations where leaders meet in meetings to find alternative solutions to the challenges they face. Most of these meetings are based on presenting an idea, and the expectation, at least from the presenter’s perspective, is that it will be embraced by the rest. However, this is not always the case. Perhaps this approach is constructive in a world where progress is slow, but such a world does not exist anymore. The dynamics of the environment in which we operate require leaders to generate innovative ideas and creative solutions to address the challenges they face. These situations are generated by the complex challenges and rapid changes in the business environment in recent years.
How does brainstorming help in leadership development programs?
In addition to generating ideas and solutions, the brainstorming session serves to validate values and beliefs. Let’s be honest with ourselves, who doesn’t need recognition?
In the programs I coordinate, I meet teams composed of one or more departments of the company. This causes the participants to perceive themselves as either similar or different. So, the brainstorming session helps participants from both perspectives:
To identify different approaches – which will bring even more value to the team and help it develop in the future.
To identify that others have the same approach – which will strengthen the team’s relationship because its members identify common values.
The first result I see after a brainstorming session is the curiosity of participants to learn more about their colleagues involved in the program. This aspect is beneficial because it builds relationships and bridges of communication in the workplace.
Another benefit of brainstorming sessions in a training setting is that participants have the opportunity to better understand the role and challenges of their colleagues. So when they meet at work, the disagreements between them disappear, and most of the time, an authentic relationship based on empathy and respect develops.
The value of brainstorming sessions
We all know that information is accessible to everyone today, but you can have all the information in the world if you don’t know how to connect it to your needs. The brainstorming session in a training program helps participants create this connection. This way, their actions are directed towards both skill development and awareness of personal value.
What are the principles of a brainstorming session?
Formulating a simple, concrete question that gets straight to the point.
Accepting all ideas is essential for the smooth running of the session because, as mentioned earlier, the purpose of this method is to identify new ideas and solutions. The more ideas we have, the more productive the session will be.
If the session aims to make a decision, the essential and non-essential elements are analyzed to choose the optimal solution. In training, this method highlights the participants’ level of knowledge on the subject to be addressed. Personal recognition is one of the elements that generates trust and openness and helps maintain or increase individual and organizational performance.
For us, every training session is important. Years of experience have taught us that changing behaviors, in this case, developing leadership skills, is much easier when the person involved in the process is appreciated for what they have accomplished so far.
By encouraging a creative and collaborative thinking process – brainstorming – the parties involved can identify approaches and solutions to situations that require fewer resources. At the same time, idea generation can anticipate future situations, enabling leaders to tackle future challenges.
What organization refuses to work with competent and self-confident individuals?
What are your experiences with brainstorming? We would be delighted if you could share them with us in a comment.
