Process + People + Place =
Perfect (Brain) Storm
In June, I posted an article called How To Create The Perfect (Brain) Storm.
I shared the perspective that a great brainstorm or strategy session… heck ANY great meeting… is a combination of the right people, the right process, at the right place.
Upon exploring this thought further, I realized there is a priority to these elements… Not only are all three important, but they’re important in the right order.
When I turn the diagram sideways, you can see how they build on each other.
The PLACE is important… the space where people feel safe, free from distraction, and can be inspired.
However, the place is useless without PEOPLE to populate it. Yes, people are the ultimate source of brilliant ideas that lead to innovation, however, just sitting around winging-it (even in an inspirational space) won’t efficiently lead to the solutions you are after.
However, you gather these people in a place led by someone with the right PROCESS (includes tools), and you’ve got yourself a winner. The process forms the base, the strength of the entire process.
If you don’t have a good process figured out (or hired out) don’t bother meeting. All the great minds in even the most inspirational spot won’t make good use of your time.
Background
I offer these thoughts as I’m crafting the Idea Sandbox Brainstorming Destination. I will provide the PROCESS and the PLACE, you provide the PEOPLE and the PROBLEM to be solved.
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I cannot agree as to the prioritization. I think people come first. Period. The right people can overcome deficiencies in place and process. But there’s nothing you can do to overcome the wrong people.
.-= Adam´s last blog ..Yeah, it’s that fast =-.
Adam, thank you for visiting Idea Sandbox and your comment.
I know what you’re saying… it’s a struggle… I don’t want to discount the value of PEOPLE, but I’ve been in meetings with all the right people and the meeting flopped… it was a waste of resources. A good leader/facilitator would have made the meetings a success.
We can agree, having the wrong people is worthless.
But sometimes, even having the right people doesn’t guarantee success.
Apart from the valuable discussion, which (P-)one to put on top, I would change one P – and with it the entire concept of it:
P = place -> P = Panorama
While “place” merely and primarily focus on “places” (which is a great start, no doubt), Panorama stretches further and entails not only places and material (aka external factors) but also the whole concept of climate (as a crucial inner factor), as well as the notion of team, which to me is not included in P1 (= persons).
Yet: An exciting topic!
Best
Match
oh, and concerning “the right order” (if there was any such thing like this ;-) ):
1) I’d put Panorama at the bottom (since it is the all-encompassing basis in which everything happens to be creative)
2) in the middle I’d put P2 (= Process) as the structuring element (on the basis of a given Panorama)
3) and on top the Person (as he/she is able to unfold/develop his/her creativity on a (hopefully) well prepared Panorama-basis, using an enabling (Process-)structure).
Best
Match