Suggestions for creative engagement in meetings

C

ChelseaA

0
Hi folks,

Got any good tips on how to run a meeting effectively where the goal is team-building and brainstorming goals for the coming year? Ideas on how to run an awesome brainstorming session ie capturing everyone's ideas (how?) etc. Also, just ways to engage people and get them involved?

I've taken a look at the David Allen fact sheet titled "Five reasons for a meeting" and have the natural planning model in mind. These are helpful, but more ideas are greatly appreciated!

Thanks so much,

Chelsea
 
Science and art for meeting

chelseablake;67695 said:
Ideas on how to run an awesome brainstorming session ie capturing everyone's ideas (how?) etc. Also, just ways to engage people and get them involved?
Click to expand...
It seems to me you are looking to the deep secret how to engage people.

I think it is very simple. It depends by your attitude. Your personal attitude.

Too many time during a meeting, for example, I remember good "organizer" able at a certain moment to engage people, to involve them.

Then suddenly when the people felt confident in him, waiting for the "answers" they "used" that people against other.

So you are the big difference.

Do you really think that people could help in find solutions. Could you accept someone with better solutions than you?

Anyway some slides could open a discussion and a paper board could help you to collect their ideas, after that you have to give the perspective to them
 
I think the most important thing is to follow real brainstorming techniques:

Tell attendees about the session well ahead of time.

Brainstorm one topic per meeting.

Before the meeting, think up as many brainstorming words as you can. These are words tangentially related (or unrelated) to the main topic, which can spark new thoughts. The idea is to drop them into the conversation to see what ripples they make.

Record every idea generated during the meeting, in real time. "No" is not allowed. Brainstorming is about quantity, not quality.

Record ideas in public, on a whiteboard or flip chart or projected text file (anything that is visible to the entire group).
 
Creative engagement and brainstorming

thanks for the responses. I like the idea about throwing out words that might stimulate some thought. I also see that organizing the session in a way that flows well- where people see the results of their actions, where we stick to a plan that people know about up front and buy into- that these will increase people's engagement.

My hairdresser suggested a technique that she encountered at a seminar: putting little mini-trampolines in the back of the room that folks can use at their leisure during the meeting. I like this one, but would the large group of scientists and engineers I'm working with? ;)
 
If your group is large and there's a risk that some people may stay quiet, even though they've got good ideas, consider splitting into smaller groups, and working on a couple of topics at a time.

Give each group some flipchart paper to write on, and if necessary arrange for someone reliable to "lead" the group with the remit of getting everyone to contribute at least one idea. Then get each group to report back to the whole with a summary.

Another one I've seen recently is when considering a specific topic, get everyone to write down their key ideas or concerns on Post-It notes, one idea per Post-It, and then stick them up on a board grouped by idea. It really helps when trying to drag ideas out of people who won't open their mouths in a big meeting.

My lot (in the health service) would hate the idea of trampolines!

Ruth
 
Three questions

If you would a scientist invited to a meeting to build a team and for a brainstorming would you appreciate to be invited to talk on a
little mini-trampolines in the back of the room?

If there is a mini-trampoline, who is speaking from the maxi-trampoline?

Is the hierarchy of the trampolines respecting the desired results?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top