What Beyond Big Marketing Learned From a Little Black Mouse

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I went to the Disney Institute for a seminar and they had some exercises for group decision-making. Being part of a Chicago Marketing Agency we like to keep on top of strategies that make our partners more successful. It was all about inspiring creativity. It was all about capitalizing on the diversity and depth of your workforce. They believe that thinking in groups and treating all employees like equals in this process will help create a steady flow of ideas that provide innovative products, services and systems.
One example of group decision making involves creating a collaborative culture.

Two principals of creating a collaborative culture is:
1. Everyone is creative
2. Your Ideas are separate from your identity

Successful group decision-making includes these components

• Passion of the purpose
• Shared Values
• Communication
• Trust
• Variety of perspectives.

One technique is Blue Sky Brainstorming

• Pick a leader
• Choose someone to take notes – keep key points down to two or three words
• Eliminate boundaries
• Be positive – Every idea is worth considering
• Encourage thought building … Yes and …
• Leader solicits group consensus

This is one way to get the ball rolling. It involves the whole company. At bigblackpencil.com we like to brainstorm with our clients. Our relationship is more like a partnership. We all win when the best ideas are collaborative.

Another technique is “Pass the Paper” Brainstorming

This form of brainstorming maintains building ideas while allowing for more individual expression. Keep the groups small and make sure the team members come from varied backgrounds within the company.

First you identify an opportunity Like… How do we make our customers feel more comfortable when they… Log on to our Chicago website?

1. State a topic on a sheet of 8 1/2” x 11” paper. Pose a problem or an opportunity in the form of a question.
2. Grab a pad of post-it notes and add nine (3 x 3) in the paper on the sheet of paper
3. Pass the paper to a team member and have them review the suggestions and add three more then pass the paper to the next team member. Repeat.
4. Once everyone has added their thoughts, the team leader reviews the ideas and opens the suggestions for group consensus

These strategies for group-think are part of continuous improvement process. The benefits are, Company-wide participation and buy in, improved morale, mutual respect, and best of all better ideas.

Try these strategies within your own company, then contact us.

Lets brainstorm together!