The speed of an idea

By Bill Jourdain

April 16, 2008 11:41 am

— Brainstorming. It’s something we are all familiar with, and something I have been doing a lot of as I write these weekly columns. I thought it an interesting concept to research further. Brainstorming is a technique that helps individuals or teams come up with multiple ideas.
It can be used for problem solving, new product development, marketing, advertising, new ways to approach customers, new things to do, new ventures, to prepare presentations, plan meetings, and of course, write articles.
While the fundamentals of brainstorming have been put to use throughout history, a name wasn’t actually put to the process until Alex Osborn, a 1940s advertising executive, decided that the conventional methods of overcoming obstacles and creating new ideas were too restrictive and weren’t conducive to real creativity.
At first, Osborn referred to brainstorming as a “think-up” process which had four fundamental rules. These four rules in brainstorming history stated that:
• The goal of a “think-up” session would be to come up with as many ideas as possible.
• There would be absolutely no criticism of any thoughts or ideas.
• No idea should be considered too outlandish and such ideas would be encouraged.
• Members of a “think-up” team should build upon one another’s ideas.
After Osborn introduced the concept of brainstorming to us, it took the world by storm.
At some point in your business career, it is very likely that you and other key members of your group will gather for an offsite session or meeting convened for the express purpose of generating new ideas. The sought-after ideas could be to solve problems, devise a strategy or to build consensus.
Most likely, your group will consider many different ideas by engaging in the time-tested practice of brainstorming. Brainstorming, by its very nature, is ideally suited to the exploration of new ideas, and it can work.
The human brain is divided into left and right hemispheres that control different forms of reasoning. The left side controls logical functions: arithmetic, structure, sequence, ranking and order, all of which proceed in a linear progression. The right side controls creative functions: concepts, music, images and emotion, all of which are nonlinear in nature and occur randomly. Brainstorming is a creative process. Use the right tool for the right job.
Most business people, being results-driven, try to jump immediately to a logical conclusion while their right brains are still roaming around in nonlinear mode. The left brain approach might let a new idea slip through the cracks. Brainstorming, the right brain approach, is an open process that recognizes, allows and encourages the free flow of ideas.
While I learned more about the brainstorming process, it really hit home as I perused ChamberLink and realized we can all use this process to assist in the upcoming visioning process led by the county. Whitfield County, including the cities of Dalton, Tunnel Hill and Varnell are updating the comprehensive plan. It establishes a clear vision of the kind of place a community wants to be in the future, and provides a course of action to build what stakeholders envision.
If you would like more information or a list of public meetings visit www.whitfieldcountyga.com. Attend one of the upcoming workshops and join your community as we brainstorm and envision a Greater Dalton.

Bill Jourdain is chairman of the chairman of the Dalton-Whitfield Chamber of Commerce executive board.