Brainstorming sessions often fail. BNET bloggers over the last year have identified many reasons why, and offered ways to improve the results.
But my new favorite tip for better brainstorming comes from Julie Gilbert, writing on Harvard Business Publishing. Her post How to Lead Better Brainstorming Sessions includes a key component often overlooked. It’s less about about how the meeting is run, and more about who is invited in the first place. Her tips include:
- Rainbow Coalition. Make sure the session looks like your customer base. In other words, if half your customers are women, make sure 50 percent of meeting participants are women, too. Represent your other important customer segments the same way.
- Customers at the Table. Don’t just invite employees to the meeting. Include real customers for truly out of the box thinking.
- Experience isn’t Everything. Veteran staffers are helpful for their experienced insights, but younger employees bring their own unique perspectives.
Read her post for other tips on creating a supportive environment for idea exchange and the role of meeting leaders.
What’s your experience with brainstorming sessions? Why does it seem that they really don’t work more often than not?
