Comments on: Brainstorming for the Corporate http://johnnyholland.org/2009/06/brainstorming-for-the-corporate/ It's all about interaction Fri, 26 Apr 2013 13:38:39 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: Twitter Trackbacks for Johnny Holland - It’s all about interaction » Blog Archive » Brainstorming for the Corporate [johnnyholland.org] on Topsy.com http://johnnyholland.org/2009/06/brainstorming-for-the-corporate/#comment-107712 Twitter Trackbacks for Johnny Holland - It’s all about interaction » Blog Archive » Brainstorming for the Corporate [johnnyholland.org] on Topsy.com Wed, 02 Sep 2009 09:15:12 +0000 http://johnnyholland.org/?p=2550#comment-107712 [...] Johnny Holland - It’s all about interaction » Blog Archive » Brainstorming for the Corporate johnnyholland.org/magazine/2009/06/brainstorming-for-the-corporate – view page – cached Everyone reading this knows what a brainstorm is (I hope). I want to review a bit about the process I’ve used to find success in brainstorms, why they are helpful, and how they can be more successful in a corporate environment. — From the page [...] [...] Johnny Holland – It’s all about interaction » Blog Archive » Brainstorming for the Corporate johnnyholland.org/magazine/2009/06/brainstorming-for-the-corporate – view page – cached Everyone reading this knows what a brainstorm is (I hope). I want to review a bit about the process I’ve used to find success in brainstorms, why they are helpful, and how they can be more successful in a corporate environment. — From the page [...]

]]> By: Joe Fletcher http://johnnyholland.org/2009/06/brainstorming-for-the-corporate/#comment-107711 Joe Fletcher Sun, 28 Jun 2009 21:09:28 +0000 http://johnnyholland.org/?p=2550#comment-107711 Steve - excellent point and feedback! I never thought about the word "comedy" alienating people, but I can totally understand the comment "I'm not funny". My goal is precisely that "Yes and" attitude. I say comedy only because the improv groups I've seen focus on comedy, so that's where I've pulled it from. However it's more about the principles. Throw out an idea, build on the idea, and keep the 'yes and' focus, and never 'no but'. Those are the key points I share with the team when I brainstorm. I'll work on tailoring my language. You should come out to Seattle! I look forward to meeting you one day :D Steve – excellent point and feedback! I never thought about the word “comedy” alienating people, but I can totally understand the comment “I’m not funny”. My goal is precisely that “Yes and” attitude. I say comedy only because the improv groups I’ve seen focus on comedy, so that’s where I’ve pulled it from. However it’s more about the principles. Throw out an idea, build on the idea, and keep the ‘yes and’ focus, and never ‘no but’. Those are the key points I share with the team when I brainstorm.

I’ll work on tailoring my language. You should come out to Seattle! I look forward to meeting you one day :D

]]> By: Steve Portigal http://johnnyholland.org/2009/06/brainstorming-for-the-corporate/#comment-107710 Steve Portigal Sun, 28 Jun 2009 16:22:45 +0000 http://johnnyholland.org/?p=2550#comment-107710 Joe - yeah, that's my quibble. I think "improv" =/= "improv comedy" - it's a process and it can be very entertaining to do and to watch; I'm much more interested in the process of doing it, I find that very satisfying and stimulating and so on, creative flow states, what-have-you. And that is often hilarious, but different than comedy, where you want to make someone else laugh. I think most people have experienced "improv comedy" either on TV or at a club or something but I fear that adding the comedy word to the term increases the intimidation factor. I've always had people tell me "Oh, I couldn't do improv because I'm not funny." Of course that's not what it's about, it's about this collaborative process (see the bit about improv in my recent Johnny Holland piece http://johnnyholland.org/magazine/2009/06/lets-embrace-open-mindedness/). I'll be leading a session at IDSA in Miami in November called Improv Infusion: "Yes, and" For Better Design/Design Research Joe – yeah, that’s my quibble. I think “improv” =/= “improv comedy” – it’s a process and it can be very entertaining to do and to watch; I’m much more interested in the process of doing it, I find that very satisfying and stimulating and so on, creative flow states, what-have-you. And that is often hilarious, but different than comedy, where you want to make someone else laugh. I think most people have experienced “improv comedy” either on TV or at a club or something but I fear that adding the comedy word to the term increases the intimidation factor. I’ve always had people tell me “Oh, I couldn’t do improv because I’m not funny.” Of course that’s not what it’s about, it’s about this collaborative process (see the bit about improv in my recent Johnny Holland piece http://johnnyholland.org/magazine/2009/06/lets-embrace-open-mindedness/).

I’ll be leading a session at IDSA in Miami in November called Improv Infusion: “Yes, and” For Better Design/Design Research

]]> By: links for 2009-06-28 | burningCat http://johnnyholland.org/2009/06/brainstorming-for-the-corporate/#comment-107709 links for 2009-06-28 | burningCat Sun, 28 Jun 2009 08:06:55 +0000 http://johnnyholland.org/?p=2550#comment-107709 [...] Brainstorming for the Corporate Everyone reading this knows what a brainstorm is (I hope). I want to review a bit about the process I’ve used to find success in brainstorms, why they are helpful, and how they can be more successful in a corporate environment. If you work in an agency, this may not be as helpful, but might offer an interesting perspective. For those in the corporate environment, I hope this will help give you new ideas and erode old beliefs. [...] [...] Brainstorming for the Corporate Everyone reading this knows what a brainstorm is (I hope). I want to review a bit about the process I’ve used to find success in brainstorms, why they are helpful, and how they can be more successful in a corporate environment. If you work in an agency, this may not be as helpful, but might offer an interesting perspective. For those in the corporate environment, I hope this will help give you new ideas and erode old beliefs. [...]

]]> By: Joe http://johnnyholland.org/2009/06/brainstorming-for-the-corporate/#comment-107708 Joe Sat, 27 Jun 2009 22:49:11 +0000 http://johnnyholland.org/?p=2550#comment-107708 Thanks Steve! Yes, I do see a typo there. I'll correct that. Are you referring to the terminology quibble that it's actually improv theater, and not "comedy"? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Improvisational_theatre I'll check out the podcast this weekend. Thanks Steve! Yes, I do see a typo there. I’ll correct that.
Are you referring to the terminology quibble that it’s actually improv theater, and not “comedy”? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Improvisational_theatre

I’ll check out the podcast this weekend.

]]> By: Steve Portigal http://johnnyholland.org/2009/06/brainstorming-for-the-corporate/#comment-107707 Steve Portigal Sat, 27 Jun 2009 15:38:35 +0000 http://johnnyholland.org/?p=2550#comment-107707 Joe - good stuff and good to keep reminding people about approaches to take. "don’t involve people who don’t want to be involved." is brilliant because it's obvious when you read it but it takes an article like this to really make it feel obvious. It's NOT obvious. So thanks. Also, I like the phrase "round-robin" - I think we tend to run sessions that combine breakouts, but into small groups, where the improv principles are still used, and then using prioritizing and voting and presenting back to move things to another level. i.e., Generate 20 ideas in 3 groups, each group picks 2 to pitch back, the larger group builds and reactions on those 6 ideas. Then you can do things like another round where each group takes a different topic, or each group takes someone else's ideas and evolves, them. A terminology quibble: improv is not improv comedy. That's just one of the topics (if I remember correctly) I covered with Chris Miller in this podcast: http://www.core77.com/blog/broadcasts/core77_broadcast_chris_miller_of_lifeplays_interviewed_by_steve_portigal_5959.asp And a typo alert: "improv" vs. "improve" - I do this all the time.. Joe – good stuff and good to keep reminding people about approaches to take. “don’t involve people who don’t want to be involved.” is brilliant because it’s obvious when you read it but it takes an article like this to really make it feel obvious. It’s NOT obvious. So thanks.

Also, I like the phrase “round-robin” – I think we tend to run sessions that combine breakouts, but into small groups, where the improv principles are still used, and then using prioritizing and voting and presenting back to move things to another level. i.e., Generate 20 ideas in 3 groups, each group picks 2 to pitch back, the larger group builds and reactions on those 6 ideas. Then you can do things like another round where each group takes a different topic, or each group takes someone else’s ideas and evolves, them.

A terminology quibble: improv is not improv comedy. That’s just one of the topics (if I remember correctly) I covered with Chris Miller in this podcast: http://www.core77.com/blog/broadcasts/core77_broadcast_chris_miller_of_lifeplays_interviewed_by_steve_portigal_5959.asp

And a typo alert: “improv” vs. “improve” – I do this all the time..

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