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Entrepreneur Advice:
Keith Ferrazzi
www.ferrazzigreenlight.com
About Keith Ferrazzi

Widely hailed as one of the world’s most “connected” people, Keith Ferrazzi is the author of Never Eat Alone, the international bestselling book about building relationships for success. Ferrazzi is also an acclaimed speaker and CEO of Ferrazzi Greenlight, a consulting and professional development firm that helps organizations drive growth through relationships. Earlier in his career, he was chief marketing officer at Deloitte Consulting and the youngest to be tapped for partner in the firm's history. Then, upon joining Starwood Hotels and Resorts, Ferrazzi was the youngest CMO in the Fortune 500. He also served as CEO of YaYa Media before founding Ferrazzi Greenlight.



Recent Article:

Create a Genius Factory
- For more on Keith Ferrazzi visit www.ferrazzigreenlight.com

A recent New Yorker article about the wild success of Nathan Myhrvold's company Intellectual Ventures got me thinking on the blog about group problem solving -- an incredible tool for innovation and rapid progress. Group problem solving can help out in the workplace or in those great peer-to-peer networks that I believe are instrumental to success.

Myhrvold had the inspired idea to put geniuses together in "invention sessions," hoping that together they would solve problems and yield lucrative patents. The founding mission of Intellectual Ventures was to file 100 patents a year. Instead, they're filing 500 a year! In this roundtable environment, ideas flourished beyond all expectation, giving lie to the idea that scientific progress requires an apple plunking somebody on the head.

My consulting company is constantly pushing clients to give group problem solving a try. With that in mind, I'd like to walk you through some of the basics, distilled from years of experience leading group sessions and training the world's most successful companies to do the same.

Step One: Establish a larger goal or vision for the group to rally around. When the group rallies around a shared goal, individuals are more motivated to contribute.

Step Two: Invest time in developing targeted, smart questions. Providing structure and direction allows creativity to flourish.

Step Three: Assemble and distribute background facts. Concrete information forces the group to focus on issues, not personalities.

Step Four: Make sure the group reviews the questions and facts on their own before the session. Prepwork ensures that they come into the process ready to contribute good ideas.

Of course, group problem solving works best when you and your peers embrace those core values - intimacy, transparency, accountability, and generosity - that make participants feel safe to express themselves freely and treat others with care and respect.

But finally, don't forget to have fun! Crack jokes, relax, and smile. There's no need to suffocate the process with seriousness. Challenges are much easier to face when everyone is in a good mood, don't you think?

Warmly,
Keith





Create a Genius Factory - To learn more about this author, visit Keith Ferrazzi's Website.

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Leanne Hoagland-Smith
Are your sales where you want them to be? Will you be one of the few who achieves sales or business success or one of the many who have failed to change? Are you tired of being told you are like everyone else? Then you may find my first book on sales of interest. Be the Red Jacket in the Sea of Gray Suits, The Keys to Unlocking Sales available at Amazon or at http://www.processspecialist.com/red-jacket.htm. This book is a reflection of my no-nonsense approach to improving sales to overall business results. If you are truly committed to making sustainable changes, then I can help you secure a positive return on your investment because I focus on executable solutions not telling you the problems you already know you have. From training to corporate (group) coaching to executive one on one coaching, my approach is to assess, create awareness, build a goal driven action plan and then execute. The bottom line question is "Not do you or your employees know it, but do you or they want to do it?" Please call for a free strategy session at 219.759.5601. - Visit Leanne Hoagland-Smith's Website


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Never Eat Alone - Keith Ferrazzi

 

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