Remember
the kids in fourth grade who constantly and frantically raised their hands,
eager to dominate class discussions and flaunt their knowledge? When they grew
up, they probably overwhelmed a brainstorming group.
University
of Texas at Arlington professor Paul Paulus says that having group members
write their ideas at first and then pass them along to the next participant to
expand on, or listing them in a computer network, circumvents extroverts
hogging the discussion while others sit silently like wallflowers at a school
dance. There is some research showing that shy people often have the best
ideas, Paulus adds.
Psychologist
Tony McCaffrey promotes something similar, which he calls “brainswarming.” His method entails the use of a
large board, with problems listed across the top and resources along the
bottom. Participants don’t talk, but offer possible solutions via sticky notes.
He contends that his system generates far more ideas than traditional
brainstorming.
A skilled
facilitator will emphasize that a brainstorming meeting is not a discussion,
but a forum for producing as many ideas in a limited time as possible, says
innovation consultant Leon Segal. The facilitator can discourage extroverts
from dominating and encourage introverts to pipe up simply by the way she makes
eye contact with them, Segal says. Or she can tell the extrovert that he is so
ahead of the group that he should put his ideas in writing for review later and
remind the introvert that everybody’s input is important, Segal adds.
After
writing their ideas, the group then meets to discuss them. There is another
advantage to doing this. Insights that are verbalized early in face-to-face
sessions tend to be those that the group adopts, even if better ideas crop up
later, Paulus says. That doesn’t happen when thoughts are written first.
The
brainstorming facilitator can also call on individuals round-robin style, to
encourage participation by everybody, Paulus says.
- See
more at:
http://www.success.com/article/how-to-encourage-introverts-in-meetings#sthash.QAPLb0gN.dpuf
Remember
the kids in fourth grade who constantly and frantically raised their
hands, eager to dominate class discussions and flaunt their knowledge?
When they grew up, they probably overwhelmed a brainstorming group.
University of Texas at Arlington
professor Paul Paulus says that having group members write their ideas
at first and then pass them along to the next participant to expand on,
or listing them in a computer network, circumvents extroverts hogging
the discussion while others sit silently like wallflowers at a school
dance. There is some research showing that shy people often have the
best ideas, Paulus adds.
Psychologist Tony McCaffrey promotes something similar, which he calls “brainswarming.”
His method entails the use of a large board, with problems listed
across the top and resources along the bottom. Participants don’t talk,
but offer possible solutions via sticky notes. He contends that his
system generates far more ideas than traditional brainstorming.
A skilled facilitator will emphasize
that a brainstorming meeting is not a discussion, but a forum for
producing as many ideas in a limited time as possible, says innovation
consultant Leon Segal. The facilitator can discourage extroverts from
dominating and encourage introverts to pipe up simply by the way she
makes eye contact with them, Segal says. Or she can tell the extrovert
that he is so ahead of the group that he should put his ideas in writing
for review later and remind the introvert that everybody’s input is
important, Segal adds.
After writing their ideas, the group
then meets to discuss them. There is another advantage to doing this.
Insights that are verbalized early in face-to-face sessions tend to be
those that the group adopts, even if better ideas crop up later, Paulus
says. That doesn’t happen when thoughts are written first.
The brainstorming facilitator can also
call on individuals round-robin style, to encourage participation by
everybody, Paulus says.
- See more at: http://www.success.com/article/how-to-encourage-introverts-in-meetings#sthash.QAPLb0gN.dpuf
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