If you want to get a collection of good ideas from your team, avoid using brainstorming. Brainstorming means everyone puts forward ideas in a group meeting, but people will often focus on the ideas presented so far (herd mentality).

Instead, use the nominal group method.

Each team member writes lots of ideas on paper about the topic (either before the meeting, or at the start). Once everyone is done, the coordinator should list all the ideas on a board so everyone can see them. This means all ideas get shown. Then you can discuss ideas, or vote on the best.

Tagged with: brainstorming • herd mentality • ideas • nominal group method

Filed under: Training

Some companies have idea boxes or systems for employees to share their ideas for improving an organisation or project. Yet they can often find it difficult to get people to submit good ideas.

Giving a significant reward for ideas that make significant savings or profits would encourage ideas even more.

Apparently the Japanese used to have a reward system where if an employee put forth a suggestion that saved money, they would get half of the first years profit or savings from that idea.

Tagged with: ideas • improvements • rewards • saving money

Filed under: Cost • Human Resources