How might you avoid this situation? Read below.

Do you ever cringe when someone suggests the group should “brainstorm” for ideas?  The Dilbert cartoon above may depict a brainstorming session you’ve attended.  There’s usually one person (i.e., the boss above) in the group who sets unrealistic parameters and expects results. Some might even be told how to generate ideas like Wally (the guy on the left). Everyone who participates feels it’s a waste of time. It doesn’t have to be that way.

As someone who’s trained in facilitating groups using innovative and critical thinking skills, I have worked with many teams to achieve results using a variety of idea generation techniques.  According to Puccio, Murdock and Mance (2007), there are four simple guidelines to remember:

1)     Defer Judgment – don’t judge anyone’s ideas, including your own

2)     Go for Quantity – generate as many ideas as you can

3)     Make Connections – build your thoughts on the ideas of others

4)     Seek Novelty – allow for unusual and unique ideas to flourish

By using these guidelines, your next idea generation session will go more smoothly. Everyone involved will feel like something was accomplished and their input was valued.  No one wants to sit in a brainstorming session and wonder why nothing is ever achieved.  Do yourself and others a favor, use the guidelines above when you are seeking new ideas from everyone.  You may even find the solution to your problem.

What are your thoughts?

In what areas of your life would you use the four tips for idea generation?  How might the tips be useful?

References

• Puccio, G. J., Murdock, M.C., & Mance, M. (2007). Creative leadership: Skills that drive change. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.

Never Forget September 11, 2001

September 11, 2001.  We will never forget.  The morning of 9-11 came about like any other morning.  It was just another day.  Nothing special about this Tuesday until the unthinkable happened.  My initial thoughts centered on my then fiancée’s Brooklyn relatives.  Were they all right?  Were they anywhere near the financial district when this national tragedy happened?  All of my thoughts were on those in New York, Washington and rural Pennsylvania.

Two days later I was scheduled to deliver a workshop on change for ASTD Atlanta.  Having planned this session nearly two months prior, no one including myself could imagine the “change” we all would experience with 9-11.  Our world was certainly not the same.  It certainly was a challenge to deliver this workshop to a group of individuals who experienced the effects of our national tragedy differently.  So explaining to them through the application of innovative and critical thinking tools, we all can manage change better.  Even yours truly, with my experience and knowledge of Creative Problem Solving, found the “change” of 9-11 to be difficult to accept; however, we must go on!

Go on, indeed, our lives must continue.  My wife, Karen, and I were planning to get married on September 23^rd, only 12 days after the horrific event.  Living in Atlanta, Georgia, our wedding was scheduled to take place in Canton, Ohio.  Planning a long-distance wedding was challenging enough, but now with the aftermath of 9-11, we knew our wedding would somehow be affected.  Since the airlines had just reestablished partial flight schedules, it was going to be difficult to get a flight let alone to ensure all of our packages would be shipped as well.  In addition, Karen needed to carry-on her wedding gown.  Unfortunately, the airlines were enforcing strict carry-on rules and could not guarantee the safety of the gown.  Therefore, Karen and I needed to drive 16 hours to our wedding in order to make it happen.  Talk about managing change at the last minute!

Despite all of these obstacles, our wedding went off without a hitch.  All of our relatives and friends who sent an RSVP attended.  After our ceremony and before the reception started, Karen and I did a tribute to victims and their families of 9-11.  The song God Bless the U.S.A. by Lee Greenwood serenaded our guests.  We took up a collection for a fund drive established by Karen’s company, which was matching all money donated 3 to 1.  So our $400 collected turned out to be well over $1,200!  We were so very grateful and blessed to have the response to those in need after 9-11.  Our wedding day will always be remembered in part to our national tragedy.

From darkness comes light; and with every light there is hope.  Hope for a better world, a world where people can live together in harmony.  Are we striving for a “perfect world?”  Yes!  But we have to do whatever we can to get there.  Influencing innovation is the result of delivering workshops or facilitating teams to think differently.  One person, one group, one organization at a time.  The time is now for all creativity and innovation professionals to lead change in every area of their lives.  If we can lead change at our level, imagine what those in positions of power could do.  Without a doubt, September 11, 2001 has forever changed how we live our lives. 

We Will Never Forget!

The IKEA Shopping Cart

My wife and I visited IKEA recently where I discovered something I never noticed before: the wheels on the shopping cart.  It’s not that I’ve never seen wheels on a shopping cart.  But it was how the wheels were mounted on the cart.  A typical shopping cart has two wheels in the front that swivel and two stationary wheels in the rear.

IKEA took the traditional cart with two swivel wheels and added two more to the rear.  It makes moving the cart much easier.  If need to slide the cart left or right, or turn a tight corner, your cart will move with ease.

So the next time you visit your local IKEA, take a look at your cart.  Changing the rear wheels may not seem like a big deal, but it’s often something so simple that goes unnoticed by the customer.  It’s the little things like this that makes one’s shopping experience that much easier.

What are your thoughts?

In what ways might you change or adapt a product?  How might you enhance the shopping experience at your favorite retailer?

A lot has been said about our country’s economic situation over the last couple of years.  There have been many jobs lost and few businesses have dared to invest. Some have labeled these times as the “Great Recession.”  However, there are signs that the economy is turning around.

But more is needed to get America going again.  If you tuned in to President Obama’s State of the Union address on Tuesday, January 25, 2011, he mentioned quite a bit about the need for America to rediscover her innovative spirit.  Here’s a brief excerpt from his address:

The first step in winning the future is encouraging American innovation.

None of us can predict with certainty what the next big industry will be, or  where the new jobs will come from. Thirty years ago, we couldn’t know that something called the Internet would lead to an economic revolution. What we can do – what America does better than anyone – is spark the creativity and imagination of our people. We are the nation that put cars in driveways and computers in offices; the nation of Edison and the Wright brothers; of Google and Facebook. In America, innovation doesn’t just change our lives. It’s how we make a living.

When I heard the president say these remarks, I thought it was great that he’s bringing innovation to the forefront and encouraging this nation to create once again.  America has the talent and resources to bring ourselves out of the current economic state and move forward.  If we believe in our innovative potential, there is no obstacle we can’t overcome.

The president said we’re the nation of Edison, the Wright brothers and countless others who persevered to follow their idea and see it come to life.  America needs to find the answers to the issues of today and innovation can get us there.  The time is now for us to make this happen.    Albert Einstein once said “problems cannot be solved by the same level of thinking that created them.”  Our nation must think at a different level and it all begins with rediscovering our innovative spirit.

What are your thoughts?

How might we spark imagination and creativity in the United States?  In what ways might we encourage businesses to innovate?

The web today makes it easy for anyone to promote their background and expertise.  There are sites such as LinkedIn where you can build a profile around your experience.  Many people have designed websites, online portfolios and blogs.  But if you’re looking for something different to showcase your talent or to supplement what you already have, I encourage you to try Wordle.

Wordle word cloud featuring Russell's bio.

To create a word cloud, simply copy and paste your desired text into the editor and let Wordle do the rest.  You can customize fonts, colors and more.  Try it today and have fun creating unique word clouds!

What are your thoughts?

In what ways might you use Wordle?  How might Wordle encourage you to express your knowledge, skills and abilities?

My wife and I travel every year to Ohio to spend the holidays with her family.  In addition to spending time with her relatives, we usually visit our friend Gregg Lauck.  He owns a fresh market floral shop in Hudson called The Greenhouse.  His store is always decorated for the holidays with numerous arrangements, most of which are designed by Gregg himself.

Holiday Display at The Greenhouse

When I browse Gregg’s shop during the holidays, I think about how his imagination is the core of his business.  It’s very easy for him to create arrangements and design new, unique items for his business.  I must admit that Gregg is very talented with his craft.  His many creations and great service are what keep his customers coming back.

Many people may consider Gregg to be “creative” based on his floral expertise.  But I believe we are all creative in our own way.  Everyone has the ability to be creative if we allow ourselves the opportunity.  If you are solving a problem or thinking of vacation ideas, you are tapping into your imagination.

Remember, imagination is the foundation for creativity.  As the saying goes: Rome wasn’t built in one day.  Gregg’s business wasn’t built in one day either.  But we can all learn from him and make a proactive attempt to “unleash” our imagination every day and build our creative abilities.

What Are Your Thoughts?

Do you use your imagination?  How are you creative?

“What we need is a conscious appreciation of the fact that ideas have been and can be, the solution of almost every human problem.”  ~Alex F. Osborn

Alex F. Osborn believed everyone had the ability to be creative and come up with solutions to every day problems.  The essence of what Osborn believed was discussed recently when I delivered a FourSight™ workshop to a group of MBA students at Clayton State University.  I’ve conducted a number of sessions previously for the professor who teaches the class.  The students are enrolled in an innovation and management course where they learn about strategies to lead change personally and professionally.  The class had a discussion prior to my arrival about companies awarding incentives for ideas.

One of the students mentioned how high-tech companies award bonuses based on the number of patents their researchers gain.  Another student said their company has an “idea drawing.” If an idea is selected, then the employee receives $25.  However, if the selected idea makes it to the “final round,” the employee would receive an additional $50.

Now, $75 may not seem like a lot of money.  But the fact that this organization and others incent their employees for sharing ideas is commendable.  Companies who realize the potential of its employees input will ultimately reap the reward.  Whether it be patents or something as simple as an idea drawing campaign, seeking input from those who deal with challenges are often in the best position to provide a solution.

Ideas are the lifeblood of the American economy.  An organization who harnesses the imagination of its employees will be able to meet its challenges and find solutions.  This is the message I conveyed to the MBA students at Clayton State University.  The choice is theirs to have a conscious appreciation for ideas to the challenges they face in their organizations.

What are your thoughts?

Should companies offer incentives to their employees for their ideas? In what ways might organizations encourage employees to contribute ideas?

My Recommendations for Twitter Applications

I’ve been using Twitter since March of 2009 (@RussellAWheeler).  In that time, I’ve tried a number of applications on my PC and BlackBerry® device.  If you’re new to the “Twittersphere,” here are my recommendations:

• TweetDeck (for PC or Mac)
• ÜberTwitter (for BlackBerry®)

TweetDeck

TweetDeck is a great application for using Twitter on your desktop.  It’s built utilizing Adobe AIR and compatible for PC and Mac.  What I like about TweetDeck are the number of features and ease of use.  Here are a few:

• Organize your friends, colleagues, special interests into easily manageable categories as well as Facebook and LinkedIn.
• Manage your @replies, direct messages and manage conversations.
• Watch video clips from You Tube and other providers without leaving TweetDeck.
• Easily shorten URLs and automatically insert them inside your tweet.
• It’s Free!

ÜberTwitter

When I started using Twitter on my BlackBerry® device, I quickly discovered the limitations of the Twitter mobile site.  There are a variety of BlackBerry® applications available and many of which are free.  When I found ÜberTwitter, my search was over.  ÜberTwitter is one of the easiest applications to use and offers great features.  Here are a few:

• Loads and runs fast.
• Customizable user interface.
• Full screen editor to compose tweets.
• GeoTagging options.
• URL shortening through Bit.ly.

Twitter is a great way to connect with others who share similar interests as you.  TweetDeck and ÜberTwitter are two tools to keep the conversation going wherever you may be.

What are your thoughts?

What are your favorite Twitter applications?  Do you use TweetDeck or ÜberTwitter?

The 21 Suggestions for Success by H. Jackson Brown, Jr., is one of my favorite compilations of success tips.  There’s something on the list for everyone who desires to lead a successful life.  When I first saw the list many years ago, I recognized then that it contained many useful tips and it’s something that I continue to reference to this day (I have a poster version hung at my office).

Here are the 21 Suggestions for Success:

1. Marry the right person. This one decision will determine 90% of your happiness or misery.
2. Work at something you enjoy and that’s worthy of your time and talent.
3. Give people more than they expect and do it cheerfully.
4. Become the most positive and enthusiastic person you know.
5. Be forgiving of yourself and others.
6. Be generous.
7. Have a grateful heart.
8. Persistence, persistence, persistence.
9. Discipline yourself to save money on even the most modest salary.
10. Treat everyone you meet like you want to be treated.
11. Commit yourself to constant improvement.
12. Commit yourself to quality.
13. Understand that happiness is not based on possessions, power or prestige, but on relationships with people you love and respect.
14. Be loyal.
15. Be honest.
16. Be a self-starter.
17. Be decisive even if it means you’ll sometimes be wrong.
18. Stop blaming others. Take responsibility for every area of your life.
19. Be bold and courageous. When you look back on your life, you’ll regret the things you didn’t do more than the ones you did.
20. Take good care of those you love.
21. Don’t do anything that wouldn’t make your Mom proud.

I firmly believe there’s no limit to how successful one can be.  The only limit to a person’s success is oneself.  If we treat success as a journey and not a destination, more of us may recognize and experience it along the way.  H. Jackson Brown, Jr., created a thoughtful list of success tips.  But it’s up to us to decide if his 21 Suggestions for Success inspire us to be the very best.

What are your thoughts?

Which of the 21 Suggestions for Success is your favorite and why?  What suggestion for success would you add to this list?

“There’s no wrong way to eat a Reese’s® peanut butter cup.”

The same can be said about Social Media.  Not necessarily eating Social Media, but how you use it.  Over the past number of years, the “Web 2.0″ phenomenon has exploded.  Everyone seems to be tweeting, blogging and updating their Facebook status.  But how can an independent training professional or anyone in business for themselves capitalize on Social Media?

The Independents Networking and Collaborating Special Interest Group of the Greater Atlanta ASTD Chapter recently featured a panel discussion on how self-employed training professionals can market themselves through Social Media.  The panel consisted of Dawn Gartin (@DawnGartin) and Kelly Vandever (@KellyVandever).  Here are 10 tips one can use to promote their business, service or them self through Social Media:

1. If you’re on LinkedIn, spend time on your profile and make it a reflection of your overall experience.  Many potential clients and companies look to LinkedIn for talent.
2. Get recommendations from people who can vouch for me.  Even send a “template” or draft of a recommendation that the person can write from.
3. Always personalize a LinkedIn invitation versus the “standard” template.
4. If new to Twitter, get a profile, look and listen to others who have a similar interest as you.  Then decide how you will use it.
5. On Twitter, have your real name in your profile, Twitter name or picture. Make it personal.  People tend to converse with a picture, not a logo.
6. If you are a business owner, you should have a Facebook page to promote your brand.
7. Make sure you look at the privacy settings for any Social Media platform. There may be information you only want to share with particular groups or people versus everyone.
8. Always use a strong password so your account is less likely to be hijacked. It beats having to send an apology and embarrassment.  Try this tool to test your password’s strength.
9. Consider using Yammer to send company-like Tweets to employees only.
10. Send status updates to Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook to highlight projects or clients you are working with to generate interest in your services. TweetDeck is a great solution to do this easily from one location.
11. Never say anything online that you wouldn’t say to someone standing in front of you!

To build on the 10th tip above, there was an awesome Social Media success story shared.  Jay Lambert (@LambertJay) of Integrated Learning Services told the group how a company in Australia that sought him out for a contract.  This organization follows Jay’s tweets and wanted him to bid on a contract.  This is an amazing way Social Media can bring potential business.

Instead of promoting a business, I use Social Media to promote my expertise in workplace learning and performance professional. For example, I use Twitter (@RussellAWheeler) to share knowledge, ask questions and connect with others who share similar interests in learning, innovation, technology and motivational quotes.

The bottom line is there’s no right or wrong to use Social Media.  You simply need to find out how it will work best for you.  Talk to others who use Twitter, LinkedIn or Facebook to promote their business or expertise.  The key is to leverage this “phenomenon” to your advantage.  Remember, there’s no wrong way to eat a Reese’s peanut butter cup just as there’s no wrong way to use Social Media professionally (unless you decide not to follow Tip #11).

What are your thoughts?

How do you utilize Social Media professionally?  How many of the 11 tips listed above will you use and why?