Brainstorming

Guest Contributor: Julia Wert-Marrocco
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Sometimes in your Mastermind Group you will want to spend time brainstorming.

A successful Mastermind Group is one that can brainstorm well. Many groups have problems brainstorming, therefore do not leverage their thinking power to the extent possible.

Brainstorming is the unashamed, prolific sharing of ideas that come to your mind when you are in the group setting.

Here are three principles to follow for better brainstorming:

Principle number one: Never judge (hold back) your own ideas. Allow the idea to flow out of your mouth before you judge whether it is feasible, outrageous, lame,etc. In other words, you are not allowed to judge your idea. The purpose of the idea is to spark other ideas. Your idea is simply a catalyst to get the "storm" of ideas going. You cannot be afraid of what others in the group will thing when you blast the idea onto the virtual blackboard. There is no teacher grading you on how "good" or "bad", "wrong" or "right" the idea is.

Principle number two: Never firehose someone's idea. That means when someone contributes an idea, no matter how ridiculous it might sound, you must not label it, you may not point out why it wouldn't work, you may not say anything about it. The whole exercise of brainstorming is to bring forth more ideas. Just listen to the idea, relax and say what that reminds you of, or makes you think of, listen to the next idea, and come forth with anything that's in your mind. Everyone in the group must feel safe and relaxed. Brainstorming should be one of the most fun activities you do together as a group.

Some people have a very difficult time with brainstorming. It requires breaking through the adult temptation to explain why something won't work. In brainstorming, it is not an issue whether it will work or not. Each idea is simply a step along a larger path of ideas your group is building together. You are the road crew.

Principle number three: Don't expect immediate results. Sometimes, the ideas will "soak" in your brain, and sprout forth a stand-alone magnificent idea. Be patient.

Lastly, the more child-like you allow yourself to be, the more creative your ideas will be, because children are less judgmental than adults as a whole. Judging is something we learn to do more of as we age. So use your best child-like mind when brainstorming.

My hope for you in 2009 is that you remain open-minded enough to see the opportunities before you, and remember there is no such thing as a bad idea. Only bad implementation.

To your abundant success and happiness in the coming year,
Coach Julia