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Group
Creativity and Teamwork
Objective:
This is a hands-on, fast-moving program for imparting
creative problem solving skills to team leaders and members of work
teams. Classes are highly interactive, limited to no more than 10 participants.
It gives participants skills and techniques in idea generation, idea
development and collaborative problem solving. This enables them to
plan and execute an innovative teamwork approach on a wide variety of
problems and opportunities, ranging from small tasks to larger projects.
Key Outcomes:
- New skills in
creative thinking.
- More efficient,
productive and exciting meetings, with more contributions from participants.
- Enhanced collaborative
problem solving skills applied to bottom-line organizational challenges.
- Team building
through the accomplishment of real business-related tasks.
- The ability
to engage in daring, breakthrough thinking when opportunity knocks,
rather than being limited to minor, incremental changes.
Topics Covered:
- Group Dynamics
- How certain types of behavior can enhance or create barriers to
innovative task accomplishment. Use of videotape, visual feedback
and skilled coaching greatly enhances this learning.
- The
Role of Problem Owner
- The critical role of "problem owner" and how to give the
team clear, consistent direction and feedback. This is vital for achieving
good teamwork and innovative results.
- The
Role of Other Team Members in Creative Problem Solving
- Those contributing ideas are encouraged to take creative mental
risks and practice genuine open-mindedness in considering the ideas
and opinions of others.
- Open-minded
Evaluation and Development - A five-step process for building
feasibility into a flawed, yet intriguing new idea. Step 1 is to "just
say maybe ..."
- Problem
Solving Process
- A sequence of activities for exploring and developing ideas that
allows logic and analysis to co-exist with more speculative and approximate
thinking, key ingredients for creativity. This combination of linear
and lateral thinking results in solutions that are unique and original,
yet feasible enough for implementation.
- Guidelines
for Constructive Interaction - Managing the diversity of thought,
opinions, and perspectives in a way that ensures full participation
and engagement. This encourages commitment by all parties to implementation
of the solution, while minimizing non-constructive confrontation both
during and beyond the meeting.
Additional Areas Covered:
- Separation of
process and content in meetings - understanding that how a meeting
is designed and run is as important as what the meeting is about.
- Articulating
the Task - Clearly identifying a tangible goal to be accomplished.
- Idea generating
techniques for bringing innovation to problem solving:
- "Wishing and Wondering" about new ideas and concepts.
- Using "side trips" to generate new ideas from other
worlds.
- Connection-Making Listening - how to listen for ideas and make
creative connections.
- Specific on-the-job
applications of the skills and principles learned.
Who Should Attend:
Any employee who regularly encounters opportunities
or problems that require novel or creative solutions. The problem solving
process emphasizes a team approach, with strategies to maximize the
effectiveness of the problem solving team. Existing teams are encouraged
to attend this course as a group, or any group about to embark on a
major project in which the capacity to work creatively is considered
a plus.
Length: Typically
2 or 3 days. Each program is custom-designed to meet client needs.
Class Size:
6-10 participants.
"The relatively brief time we have invested
in this training has paid off handsomely in new efficiencies, overall
time saved, and most importantly, our performance in guarding the
safety and well-being of our employees."
- Thomas Colwell, Plant Safety Supervisor, BP Amoco Polymers
The
Innovative Edge, Inc.
Ph: 508-497-9096
Fx: 508-435-8170
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