Battle of the brainstorm

Table of Contents

An article on the Globe and Mail website last month, presented different arguments around what sparks creativity in the workplace. It stated that ‘to find big solutions to big problems, business and government leaders need to foster more of this kind of creativity’.

I tend to agree – the question remains, what is the best way to go about it?

Working at an agency, one of the aspects I would deem beneficial is the creative environment. New ideas and approaches are constantly encouraged. While we do not go as far as molding figures out of Play-Doh to get our brains working, we do have frequent brainstorming sessions.

For many, time is money and many find brainstorms a waste of time, lacking in results. For others, the less limitations placed on creative thinking, the better.

When it comes to brainstorms, a few tips I’ve learned through my own personal experience are:

 

  • Give your team some time to think individually in advance – Having some time to mull over the topic/various ideas a day in advance of the brainstorm gives everyone a chance to bring something different to the table.
  • Positive Reinforcement – No matter how crazy an idea brought forward might seem, try to focus on the positive. Your team members will likely be too embarrassed to bring up ideas in the future if they’ve received blunt feedback and you may miss out on the next big thing.
  • Timing is everything – People need to be awake to get the ideas flowing. If you’re scheduling a brainstorm, make sure everyone’s had their morning caffeine. You may not get the best ideas if your meeting starts at 8am.

If you’re feeling uninspired, there are workshops and interesting literature out there that address creativity. Some examples include Beyond the Box, Business Innovations for Dummies and a Globe and Mail article from February 2010.

It’s all about personal preference and what works best for you. My mom keeps a pen and notepad beside her bed because she believes her best ideas come to her during the night (and this is one creative lady). I prefer a solid playlist and a delicious snack.

Blog Posts by Keyword

Content Development

Effective, creative content is at the core of what we do. From B2B and B2C, our expertise spans article writing and storytelling, editorial planning, key messaging, video production and more. And we help ensure that your content gets seen. We amplify your brand’s story through an integrated, custom content strategy across digital, print, social and broadcast channels. We maximize owned, earned and paid media to amplify your message, making sure it gets in front of the right audience to drive the results you want.

VIEW OUR WORK

Corporate Communications

An integral part of any business, your brand reputation and corporate communication sets the tone with the public, your clients, employees and stakeholders – and we make sure you get the tone right. BlueSky helps you understand what matters to your audiences – both external and internal – and develops meaningful programs that resonate. We help clients with crisis and issues management, employee and executive communications, community relations and corporate social responsibility (CSR). Whether it’s a workplace fundraiser event, an annual report, infographics, HR video or speechwriting, we help you share your message with relevant stakeholders.

VIEW OUR WORK

Social Media

Social media demands an always on, two-way communication, transparency, and authentic interaction. More importantly, it demands strategy. We’ve managed social communities, developed social media guidelines and created engaging, impactful content, whether a short Instagram caption or long-form executive-published posts on LinkedIn. Through social listening tools and insights, we can make sure you’re talking about what matters most to your audience, and that your online and traditional PR efforts are integrated seamlessly and effectively.

VIEW OUR WORK

Public Affairs & Advocacy

Our in-depth experience providing integrated government relations, public affairs and strategic communications tailored to your needs helps our clients navigate the public policy process in order to successfully achieve central objectives. We work with you to better position your priorities within the current political landscape to ensure you’re able to gain the ear of key decision-makers and reach your goals.

VIEW OUR WORK

Influencer Marketing

When it comes to social influencers it’s not about who has the biggest audience, but about engagement, trust and authentic connection. We leverage valued relationships with nano- to celebrity-level creators, working collaboratively to ensure they deliver quality content that resonates with your target audience and is on-point with your brand messaging. Our winning formula requires a thoughtful approach that combines the right people, the right content and the right distribution to maximize engagement and drive impact at scale. You’ll see the results in our campaign evaluations – supported by numbers that exceed industry average performance.

VIEW OUR WORK

Media Relations & Media Training

In an environment that is increasingly pay-to-play, earned media remains the holy grail of coverage for brand credibility. Over the years we’ve developed solid relationships with traditional and online media, and we know the elements of success for securing interest from trusted journalists at top-notch publications. We excel at crafting tailored, compelling stories that help keep your brand top-of-mind across print, broadcast and digital channels. You’ll see the results through our media measurement and reporting and assess your share of voice (SOV) among competitors.

VIEW OUR WORK