Breaking Teams Out of a Rut

by Susanne Conrad

Please welcome this week's guest blogger: Renie McClay. Renie helps companies to design and deliver innovative training solutions. She has authored the books Fortify Your Sales Force, The Essential Guide to Training Global Audiences, 10 Steps to Successful Teams, and Sales Training Solutions (Kaplan). She brings creativity to all she does, having studied with Second City and is certified with Accelerated Innovation.

Breaking Teams Out of a Rut
by Renie Mclay

Have you ever been on a team that struggled with original ideas; were entrenched in doing things the way 
they have always been done? I love creativity and enjoy bringing innovation and creativity to teams. Here are some ways to help team members take a break from left brain thinking!

1. Capture your ideas. Carry a notebook (like Thomas Edison did). Creativity happens when there is a space or break. So when there is idle time, capture what comes up!

2.  Brainstorm using non-linear methods. A mind map or diagram will help stimulate additional ideas. Avoid bullets when brainstorming.  

3.  Get out of the box by getting out of the box! Most meeting rooms and offices are 4 walls and a ceiling. Look for a more creative space to engage your creative self.  

4.  Get out of the rut. A rut is a coffin with the ends cut out. Vary your route and routine to stimulate different ideas.  

5.  Use analogical thinking. Another of Edison’s methods is to take two unrelated items, like the

Pacific Ocean

and a brick, and list everything they have in common. It is a good way to think differently and begin a brainstorming session.  

These are some beginning steps. My wish is for more creative teams! More info is in 10 Steps to Successful Teams, http://tiny.cc/Ogcyt 

THE QUESTION FOR YOU:
What have you done with team to successfully break them out of a rut?