Idea generation strategies for your product!

Have you ever sat in a successful brain-storming or other product development meeting, where all the participants were involved and ideas were pouring forth? It's rare, isn't it?

Brainstorming was developed in the 1941's, yet many companies still use the 73 year-old method developed by Alex Osborne. How many other ideas this old does a company today use?

In Business Speech Improvement's seminar on Executive Communication Strategies, we discuss why traditional brainstorming is ineffective, cover the modern day research on a much better method, and then practice it. A group of 4 strangers working on a properly phrased question often generates 40 or more responses to it. Although some are duplicates and some may not be exactly what is needed, there are wonderful answers there as well.

For example, instead of "thinking outside of the box", let's wonder if the box needs to be there in the first place!

Another strategy that Alex Osborne developed is called SCAMPER. The acronym stands for substitute, combine, adapt, modify, put to another use, eliminate, reverse.

For example, imagine that you are improving a blender, a common household small appliance. What type of user are you targeting here? Let's say you are going for the person who exercises at lunch-time and needs a very light blender with a tiny motor he can take to work, to whip up a "power shake" he can quickly drink after his work-out. 

What kind of tiny motor can he substitute for the heavier ones, given the small quantity of material to be blended? Can two functions of the current blender be combined, possibly allowing only 3 speeds? Can part of the blender be adapted

so that it is lighter? Can the top be modified so that it screws on, in case it needs to be carried home with some liquid still in it, if washing is not an option at work? Can the jar be put to another use as a cup for the processed power shake? Could something on the device be eliminated to make it lighter? Instead of making a part bigger, could you reverse it and make it smaller?

This is but one of many "idea generation" strategies covered as a communication skill in the Business Speech Improvement workshop on Executive Communication.  Contact us to schedule the Executive Communication workshop for your group!

Leadership Development: The Hidden Message and the Crucial Question

Have you ever received an e-mail or voice mail that seemed slightly odd from someone you thought you knew well? For example, you might wonder,
"Why did he ask me that? I just answered it!" Besides the possibility that the other person might not have received your e-mail, there could be a potential problem that the other person was tactfully trying to relate to you - if only you had asked, "Is there something else I should know about this?"

Sometimes a question is phrased in a certain way to request clarification of instructions, to get them in writing in case of a problem later, or to delicately alert the recipient that this question is of significant importance to at least one (and maybe several) people, for a reason you should know. However, the sender may want to assess your willingness to listen first, and thus is phrasing the question that way.

When in doubt, consider there might be an underlying message and ask the other person the crucial question: "Is there anything else I should know about this?"

Business Speech Improvement provides intensive training in executive communication skills for leadership development. For those who cannot attend, an e-book, Executive Communication Strategies, offers strategies in 18 vital aspects of communication.

Modeling: How to Increase Positive Behaviors in Business (and Life)

To see today's blog posting, go to our new site, www.BusinessSpeechImprovement.com/more/blog.

Modeling: How to Increase Positive Behaviors in Business (and in Life)
What behaviors would you like to see more of in your organization? For example, when was the last time your boss sent you a written compliment or thank you note? Never? How do you think it would have made you feel if he had? When was the last time he gave you a sincere, specific compliment about your work? You can't remember that either? Ouch! It's time to change that - even if you are at the bottom of the career ladder.
Picture yourself in a large parking lot, trying to make a right turn into the flow of traffic. Finally someone nice lets you into the line. If you (very carefully) look back a minute later, you are likely to see the car behind your nice "savior" is also letting someone into the line, and the pattern will repeat a few times.
In another example, you're at the checkout line in a crowded supermarket. You enthusiastically (and slightly loudly)  thank the cashier and bagger for doing such a careful job with your groceries. The next person in line is also likely to thank them. Imagine how great they will feel after this! Think also about the impact on their work behavior, and on their desire to stay in that job.
That's the power of modeling, of one person taking the time to demonstrate the positive behavior for others. All it takes is you complimenting someone else, for example.
If you are at the bottom of the career ladder, give a specific verbal compliment. (For example,
When you clean a floor here, it really shines! Thanks for your hard work!)
 If you are a manager, take a few minutes each day to write some brief and specific thank you notes. (For example, That report you wrote on the X Project was excellent! You clearly put a lot of time and effort into it, and made some excellent points I had not considered. Thank you for being such a valued member of our team!)
People work for more than money; they want recognition of their efforts as well.
In 2014, make a resolution to give at least one enthusiastic compliment a day. It's easy, it's free - and it has tremendous benefits.
Business Speech Improvement provides intensive training in executive communication skills. We also offer a valuable e-book, Executive Communication Strategies, on 18 vital verbal skills for leaders. It's the e-book you'll wish your boss had read!