David LivermoreDriven By Difference

Lesson 3: Generating New Ideas

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Discover

David Livermore cautions leaders against just using brainstorming to come up with new ideas. Watch the short video below.

 

Beyond Brainstorming

David Livermore emphasizes that getting ideas from everyone on the team, not just a few outspoken ones, is critical for innovation.

Deepen

Brainstorming is predisposed to extroverts, native speakers and individualists.

—David Livermore

Most work teams use brainstorming as their primary tool to come up with new ideas. David mentions that the challenge with brainstorming is that it’s predisposed to extroverts, native speakers and individualists.

 

Think about the last time you were part of a brainstorming session.

1. Which individual or group of individuals did most of the talking in the meeting?

2. Were there some individuals who hardly contributed at all?

3. Did David’s observations (about extroverts, native speakers and individualists) seem to be operating in your context?

 

 

Do

Identify a project or initiative where you’ll need to come up with good ideas—this is your chance to try a new way to generate new ideas. Pick a date to gather your team together. Then try using David’s suggestions below.

  • Tell them you want to hear from everyone.
  • Offer a variety of ways to contribute those ideas. Some teams might want to work together. Others might want to go off by themselves and write up a paragraph or draw an image. Still others might want to circle up with 2-3 colleagues and present their idea.
  • Give them a hard deadline as to when you expect to receive input from them, even if it’s not fully developed.

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