Episode 6: Executive Brainstorming Challenges

Episode 8: Extreme Brainstorming: Pontiac G4, MySpace, and Friends with Benefits

Not all brainstorming is greenfield, pie in the sky, and anything goes. Sometimes you get a square peg in round hole situation. This is what I refer to as extreme brainstorming. These sessions assess your skills as a brainstorming leader. Extreme brainstorming are the situations where you need to pull out all kinds of different methods to generate a successful idea. This is the case with my experience with the Pontiac G4 and MySpace. In this podcast, I reflect on a series of brainstorming sessions in 2005. The sessions were about launching a new entry level vehicle from Pontiac called the G4. The North Star was about a massive media buy on MySpace for the vehicle launch (keep in mind MySpace was king in 2005, and Facebook was in social media diapers). Honestly, when we heard about the buy, we were dumbstruck thinking “who wants to be friends with a Pontiac G4?” As far as the “Friends with Benefits,” you need to listen to the podcast to find out how that enters the picture (don’t worry, this is a G-Rated podcast. Okay, maybe PG). WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT OTHER DA VINCI METHODS? The Brainstorming with Da Vinci book is available on Amazon [https://www.amazon.com/Brainstorming-Vinci-Entertaining-Approach-Generate/dp/B093B8HBCJ/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=brainstorming+with+da+vinci&qid=1643554086&sprefix=brainstorming+with+%2Caps%2C97&sr=8-1], and we offer various brainstorming collaboration and leadership training [https://brainstormingwithdavinci.com/davinci-training]. #IdeaGeneration #brainstorming #inspiration #ideas #brainstorm #creativity #collaboration #ideasmatter #marketingideas

Episode 7: Idea Fusion: Challenge Your Team to Break Out in an Innovative Way

Have you ever has a brainstorming session where the ideas were okay, but nothing really wowed you? Or have you ever felt the ideas out of your session have been done before? Finally, did you ever wish you pushed the ideas in a more innovative way? If you feel this way, there is a good chance it is a result of Idea Inbreeding. Idea inbreeding is where idea generation is limited to team members experience or category knowledge. The brainstorming may focus too much on what the competition is doing. Or the team may be too focused on common approaches within a discipline or skill set. The result is a lackluster session where ideas are only incrementally better than the current norm. Break Out by Fusing Ideas Outside of Your Norm A way to break out of this thought process, is inspiring the team with innovative ideas that worked in other categories. This is the idea behind the Da Vinci Fusion method. In this episode, I will share several Fusion stories to illustrate how the method works. The first story is about rethinking the Chevrolet web site to break the mold of automotive web sites. The second is from ALDI about creating an innovative online experience to capture shoppers earlier in their shopping journey. I will also talk about how to implement the Fusion method for your next brainstorming session. Want to learn more about other Da Vinci Methods? The Brainstorming with Da Vinci book is available on Amazon [https://www.amazon.com/Brainstorming-Vinci-Entertaining-Approach-Generate/dp/B093B8HBCJ/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=brainstorming+with+da+vinci&qid=1643554086&sprefix=brainstorming+with+%2Caps%2C97&sr=8-1], and we offer various brainstorming collaboration and leadership training [https://brainstormingwithdavinci.com/davinci-training]. #brainstorming #inspiration #ideas #brainstorm #creativity #collaboration #ideasmatter #teamculture

Episode 6: Executive Brainstorming Challenges

Executive brainstorming can be the most challenging (and rewarding) sessions you could ever lead. Linda Taylor, the Managing Partner from Executive Rhythm. joins me on this podcast to discuss her experience leading executive brainstorming sessions. Linda has over two decades of experience leading HR Teams. Prior to starting her own gig, she was the global head of HR at GTB and BBDO Detroit. We kick off the podcast with Linda sharing different types of executive sessions she led. This includes brainstorming about organizational structure, employee engagement, and diversity, equity, and inclusion. Most recently, she has been working with clients on how to handle employees working from home or getting them excited to come back into the office. In the second section of the podcast, Linda discusses challenges she experienced when leading executive brainstorming sessions. A challenge we talk about is the impact of having the CEO or executive leader in the session. Also, we discuss how executive ego-centric behaviors can derail a session and how political correctness can limit ideas. “Having the CEO or senior leader of an organization involved in the brainstorming really prevents or stifles any free thinking that you would like to achieve.” – Linda Taylor, Managing Partner, Executive Rhythm We follow-up the challenges discussing different Da Vinci methods that are effective when leading executive sessions. We talk about the North Star and how to set-up a session for success. Also, we touch on the Idea Waterfall method which is like speed dating for ideas. Want to learn more about other Da Vinci Methods? The Brainstorming with Da Vinci book is available on Amazon [ttps://www.amazon.com/Brainstorming-Vinci-Entertaining-Approach-Generate/dp/B093B8HBCJ/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=brainstorming+with+da+vinci&qid=1643554086&sprefix=brainstorming+with+%2Caps%2C97&sr=8-1], and we offer various brainstorming collaboration and leadership training [https://brainstormingwithdavinci.com/davinci-training]. #brainstorming [https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/brainstorming/] #inspiration [https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/inspiration/] #ideas [https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/ideas/] #brainstorm [https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/brainstorm/] #creativity [https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/creativity/] #collaboration [https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/collaboration/] #ideasmatter [https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/ideasmatter/] #executive

Episode 5: Method Acting Inspired Brainstorming

There are many ways to inspire people prior to brainstorming. In my experience, one of the most effective ways is a Da Vinci method call the Mimic. The Mimic requires participants to walk in the shoes of people you are trying to affect in brainstorming (e.g., customers, employees, students). Think of it like method acting inspired brainstorming. The method gets participants out of their personal bias by providing them with an empathetic perspective of your brainstorming target. In this podcast, I discuss the method acting inspired brainstorming. I will share stories of how I used the method to inspire people prior to brainstorming (I often referred to it as method-vertising). I will also break down the Mimic method and talk about when to use it and different tactics to consider. Along the way I will share a few of my favorite stories from famous method actors like Dustin Hoffman and Daniel Day Lewis. Want to learn more about other Da Vinci Methods? The Brainstorming with Da Vinci book is available on Amazon [https://www.amazon.com/Brainstorming-Vinci-Entertaining-Approach-Generate/dp/B093B8HBCJ/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=brainstorming+with+da+vinci&qid=1643554086&sprefix=brainstorming+with+%2Caps%2C97&sr=8-1], and we offer various brainstorming collaboration and leadership training [https://brainstormingwithdavinci.com/davinci-training]. #brainstorming #inspiration #ideas #brainstorm #creativity #collaboration #ideasmatter #teamculture

Episode 4: Who's in your 7?

If you could invite seven people, living or dead, to a brainstorming session, who would you choose? For me, Leonardo da Vinci is at the top of the list. Others on my brainstorming dream team would include Lady Gaga, Steven Spielberg, Kurt Vonnegut, Amy Poehler, Quincy Jones, and Nikola Tesla. Now, I am not sure what brainstorming topic would make sense for this eclectic group (or if they would get along), but those would be my seven. So, why seven people? Well, seven is the sweet spot for brainstorming participation. In this podcast, I will discuss why seven is the magic number and the challenges you may encounter in choosing seven people. Also, I will talk about some guiding principles to think about when selecting people in order to create the best session possible. #brainstorming [https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/brainstorming/] #inspiration [https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/inspiration/] #ideas [https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/ideas/] #brainstorm [https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/brainstorm/] #creativity [https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/creativity/] #collaboration [https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/collaboration/] #ideasmatter [https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/ideasmatter/] #teamculture [https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/team/]