As a Power Woman, you know you have great ideas. I bet you also realize that those ideas never make it to the right people for implementation. There are ways to increase your success rate and have your great ideas turn into successful action. As a professionally trained facilitator, I am a witness to how powerful these sessions can be.
A recent client story:
I’ve been working with a newly promoted executive woman who had been comfortable with her skills and was well-respected in her previous role. With this promotion, she suddenly felt like she had to rebuild that comfort level all over again. I reminded her this is very common – she needed to build her credibility and respect the same way she did in her last role, but now at a higher level.
One of the tactics we discussed (and she has now successfully deployed) involved engaging her peers in a brainstorming session. This was a great way for her to get to know them and for them to get to know what she was bringing to this important role. She brought a cross-functional problem forward and asked for input. And then she listened…
She witnessed how her active listening increased their level of engagement, but also helped build mutual respect among these leaders. The brainstorming session resulted in some great ideas – and one that has proven to be the right path forward.
Why is Brainstorming so Powerful?
Although there are several ways to conduct a brainstorming session, the common theme is to tap into the collective wisdom of the group.
Here are some benefits of this technique:
- The outreach to put the effort together feels inclusive.
- Those closest to the issue offer valuable insights regarding potential challenges early on.
- Those who are impacted by the issue being discussed can offer perspectives on how other processes or business results might be affected.
- The entire process becomes a trust-building exercise without feeling like one.
- Others get to see your capabilities and style in real-time – and you get to see theirs.
The next time you have an issue that is broad and far-reaching, tap into the Power of Brainstorming to engage others and their valuable perspectives. This tactic works well with my clients, whether they are professionals or business owners. Give it a try!
If you’d like to learn more about conducting an effective brainstorming session, you can book a short targeted complimentary call with me HERE.