For some reason, I’m finding a ‘rash’ of current articles about something you may have experienced…
As you know, brainstorming sessions are when/where people get together to focus on a specific topic, and are asked to volunteer their thoughts, feelings, ideas, reactions, etc. Studies are showing that they may not be as productive (creatively speaking) as we once thought. So goes the current assumption…
In my opinion, the “success” of the sessions depends greatly on a myriad of factors including physical location, amount of time provided, the leader (who is aware — or not — of all these factors), the participants, and most of all, the pressure or stress of any expectations anyone has! (Whew!)
The articles I’m finding, basically tell us that we are each so busy wanting to be in agreement, maybe with a leader, or a stronger personality in the group, that the so-called creativity is diminished.
I can’t help but wonder what kinds of groups are being assembled… and what the directives are, once they’re gathered together.
Someone needs to say, somewhere in these articles, that there is a vast difference in how brainstorming sessions are run (or not run).
In the meanwhile, here are links to two articles about why ‘traditional brainstorming’ (what is that?) might not be providing the creativity one had hoped… I am so not surprised!
http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/wired-success/201003/brainstorming-may-discourage-creativity
More to come… including stories of successful brainstorming sessions! Yes! They CAN happen!