Article Written By Rebecca Cunz.
Dr. Keith Sawyer, author of Group Genius states: “Collaboration drives creativity because innovation always emerges from a series of sparks … never a single flash of insight”.
The New Year is upon us and it’s the perfect opportunity to put strategies into place to ensure a successful and profitable year of exhibiting. Get your team together and develop collaborative strategies to improve communication and align internal efforts.
Here are a few tips to get the process started.
1. Map out individual and team plans
Encourage each team member to share their ideas, goals and expectations in an open and positive environment. Work to keep the discussion on track and allow each person an equal opportunity to speak. It is important to create an environment that is mutually supportive where new ideas are welcomed and discussed. This will ensure that team members feel open to taking risks, discussing change and communicating ‘out of the box’ ideas.
2. Choose an idea or concept to work with
As new ideas and strategies are discussed, choose a few to develop further which align with the company’s objectives. This is also an inspiring opportunity to ensure your organisation’s objectives are clearly communicated and understood by your team. Encourage group feedback and determine the viability of these ideas. Progress ideas further until you determine one to move forward with.
3. Develop a strategy to execute and delegate roles
Now you need to address how it will happen and who is going to do it. Have someone lead this part of the meeting and make sure someone is note taking as the strategy is developed. Start from the beginning and work through step by step. The more detail the better. This will work best in a collaborative environment where team members speak up to ensure that nothing is forgotten. You may like to delegate tasks as you go or address this at the end. It is important to ensure everyone understands their role and that these are balanced effectively.
4. Set deadlines
Work through the execution strategy and set completion dates for each step. If a certain task is assigned to someone, give them the responsibility to set their own personal deadline. Setting deadlines and goals will ensure that team members have direction and will motivate them to get the job done. Follow up on the state of the project, have the deadlines been met? If not ask why and when the task will be done. It is too easy for tasks to fall by the wayside when we get busy, so it is important to be aware of what is going on and revise deadlines as you go.
As you begin to think about your marketing outreach and 2014 show schedule, I encourage you to get your team together and simply collaborate. It is the perfect time for change and whether that change is radical or minor is irrelevant. Innovation stems from collaboration and you never know what you will come up with when you put your heads together.
You can view this article and many more on the Skyline Blog.
About the Author: Rebecca has recently completed her degree in Industrial Design at QUT. Bec is our resident Database and Eye Power Seminar Queen; she has a fantastic eye for detail and is a valuable addition to the Skyline Sales & Marketing Team.
