Brainstorming a Paper Clip Into a House
Yes, brainstorming can turn a paper clip into a house. More on that in a moment. First, a question. Have you ever had a brainstorming session where people sat around hesitating to contribute? If so, you can understand how important having the right frame of mind is. Members of the group need to feel free to throw their ideas out there no matter how crazy they are. They need to be open to new ideas and thinking creatively. The following little warm up exercise that will help with both of these.
A Warm Up Brainstorming Exercise
Before you start your session, and start addressing the serious problems and projects, do a brainstorming practice exercise. I and my wife recently participated in this brainstorming exercise at a financial seminar. A paper clip was the object used in that case, but any common object will work.
First divide the participants into groups of two-to-five people. Then choose an object and have everyone write down as many ways as they can think of to use it. A prize for the group that comes up with the most uses will add some competitive incentive. However, don't specify that the ideas have to be good or in any way judged - the prize should go strictly for quantity.
This is important, because this exercise is supposed to get everyone into a creative and open state of mind. Any and all ideas should be thrown out there without fear. In any brainstorming, the judging of ideas should always come at a later stage and - in the case of this exercise - never. Encourage everyone to be thinking crazy and even funny thoughts. Humor helps.
Have a time limit for this - perhaps ten minutes or less. The idea is to purposefully rush this exercise a bit in order to get everyone thinking fast and speaking before they have time to analyze their ideas. The speed helps get people out of the habit of self-censorship.
The ideas our group came up with at the seminar included using a paper clip to pick locks, to clean out ears, as a fishhook and a picture hanger. In five minutes, we had just twenty ideas. The winning group? They had written down over thirty-five uses for a paper clip.
When the exercise is over, there should be some excitement in the air, and their really ought to be some laughter too. A paper clip for an weapon? Now you're ready to start the brainstorming session, and start attacking the important problems and projects - and in the right frame of mind.
Let the group know how crazy ideas can sometimes lead to really valuable insights and plans, by telling them the following true story:
Canadian Kyle MacDonald turned a paper clip into a house. It started when he traded his large red paper clip with someone online for a fish-shaped pen. Then he traded the pen for a hand-made ceramic doorknob. he continued "trading up" until thirteen trades and a year later, he made his final trade and moved into a new house with no mortgage. Powerful brainstorming.
Related Tags: brainstorming, creativity, brainstorm
Copyright Steve Gillman. For more on Brainstorming, and to get the Brain Power Newsletter and other free gifts, visit: http://www.IncreaseBrainPower.com
Your Article Search Directory : Find in ArticlesRecent articles in this category:
- Communicating With Othres
Communicating With Others We constantly interact with, and relate to others and the world around u - Acciaio: Materiale Eterno Dai Mille Utilizzi
Dalla rivoluzione industriale ad oggi le tecniche di produzione e lavorazione acciaio inox si sono - Team Building: an Art of Human Nature
Working together as a team is a human art loved and appreciated by all. A successful company will h - Have a San Diego Christmas Party
From The Marina Village to The Holiday Inn in downtown San Diego there are thousands of Christmas o - Explore Your Child's Creativity by Using Children's Personalized Music
Few people know that children are likely to respond to sounds and music at a young age. Actually, a - Kids Personalized Music is the Perfect Gift
Kids Juke Box may make the perfect gift for your child especially if you are highly interested to d - Provide Your Child With an Extra Creative Opportunity: the Personalized CD
Kurt Penberg and his Kids Juke Box are the genuine pioneers when it comes to the personalized child - Convey Genuine Affection and Love With the Personalized Gifts for Children
The personalized gifts are the perfect way to express your affection and love. For instance, you ca - Why Practice Corporate Team Building?
If there is one constant in business it is that everything changes. Your business success is based - Five Tips for Team Building in Washington DC
If you work in Washington DC or if you are leading a corporate team building retreat and you want t
Most viewed articles in this category:
- The Virtual Team: The Changing Face of Business
Virtual teams are the way of the 21st century, according to David Crisp. Crisp is a professional spe - The human stock factor
There is nothing more troubling to today's employers than the fact that young workers (mostly ages 2 - Curbing Low Morale
Q: I am the office manager of a small insurance firm. I have been here nine months and have noticed - Leading Multicultural Teams
While managing a multicultural workforce while working overseas, I have seen the advantages multicul - The Seven Characteristics of a High-Performing Team
If you lead a team, you know that the journey to high-performance is ongoing. It's the rare team tha - Planning a Team Building Event - Help Is As Close As Saying I Love Team Building
Managers and workplace experts alike agree that in concept, corporate team building activities are a - Cash In On Your Human Capital: Using Personality Type to Optimize Your Team
Can you improve productivity, facilitate effective communication, and create a team that works like - Mentoring Success Secrets
Mentoring Success Secrets? … key questions to ask.Mentoring has proven itself to be an effective too - Recognize Your Employees and Award Plaques
When your employees work hard, they deserve to be recognized by awards or plaques. As an owner of a - On Walking the Talk
Recently I was talking with a retailer in his store, and as we were walking around the floor, we cam