BrainZooming

DECEMBER 9, 2015

We facilitated a two-day innovation strategy workshop for an industrial company. The company wants to make significant changes to a major production process. During the innovation strategy discussions, we addressed the production process changes from five different perspectives. Are we done yet?

Strategic Thinking 40

Strategic Thinking Exercises Groups Strategy 40

BrainZooming

MARCH 9, 2016

The challenge in a client meeting was developing the strategy for a later meeting intended to build support for a biennial community event. The team leader asked, “How is it possible to listen to us talk and turn it into a strategy so quickly?”. 9 Creative Thinking Skills to Turn Talk into Strategy.

Creative Thinking 40

Creative Thinking Creativity Strategy Strategy 40

BrainZooming

MAY 6, 2016

At the 2016 Brand Strategy Conference, Antonia Dean, Director – Marketing, Brand Development, & Strategy at The Estée Lauder Companies covered the strategic thinking ideas behind creating an entrepreneurial environment in a large company. Actively engage stakeholders in strategy AND implementation success.

Strategic Thinking 40

Strategic Thinking Underperforming Technical Team Company Culture 40

BrainZooming

NOVEMBER 11, 2015

We have been working with a client that had done a lot of strategic thinking about a new initiative. Those are six starting places to use when you are doing strategic thinking about big lists. The thing is, they had done the hard strategic thinking and already had all the raw material they needed.

Strategic Thinking 40

Strategic Thinking Groups Engagement Tools 40

BrainZooming

JANUARY 17, 2018

We’ve written about the importance of signaling collaboration strategy preferences when you and team members are working remotely. Talking with someone who is struggling with identifying the best ways to signal the appropriate collaboration strategy approash, we hit on a variation on the Sergio Zyman decision levels.

Collaboration 76

Collaboration Strategy Strategy Creative Thinking 76

BrainZooming

JANUARY 15, 2016

Sometimes creative thinking challenges come from inside your own head. In many organizations, however, substantial creative thinking challenges come from leaders and cultures that may say they want new thinking, but seem to do everything they can to scuttle creativity. Mike Brown.

Creative Thinking 40

Creative Thinking Creativity Brainstorming Strategic Thinking 40

BrainZooming

FEBRUARY 10, 2017

We routinely ask those of you downloading Brainzooming strategy and innovation eBooks to share – if you are willing – the opportunities and challenges you are facing at the time. “Buy in from staff on the new vision and the required change” 5 Keys to Engaging Employees in Innovation Strategy – Our Buy-In Manifesto. .

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Strategy Strategy eBook Strategic Thinking 40

BrainZooming

DECEMBER 1, 2015

Success factors in strategic planning and creating collaborative strategy were the central topics we tackled on an edition of Smart Companies Radio, hosted by Kelly Scanlon, the owner of Thinking Bigger Business Media, Inc., Creating Strategic Impact mini-book. 10 Keys to Collaborative Strategy and Strategic Planning.

Collaboration 40

Collaboration Strategy Strategy Strategic Thinking 40

BrainZooming

JULY 12, 2016

Reviewing the innovation strategy challenges business executives identified when downloading Brainzooming eBooks , they frequently mention gaining “buy-in” for significant change initiatives. Here are five keys we’ve found for successfully engaging employees in innovation strategy. That’s no surprise. Ask me to participate.

Engagement 40

Engagement Strategy Strategy eBook 40

BrainZooming

JUNE 29, 2017

Someone downloaded a free Brainzooming strategy eBook, noting his biggest strategy challenge is “how to do a strategic planning process when you are new.” Secure copies of previous plans and strategy documents, and don’t settle for the first things people offer you. Getting to What Is Strategic.

Resources 86

Resources Strategic Thinking Comparison Strategy 86

BrainZooming

APRIL 21, 2017

The folks at Armada Corporate Intelligence offered an internal branding strategy take on the United Airlines woes, offering strategic thinking questions you can ask and answer to improve your brand’s resiliency and avoid brand crises. 3 Ways Your Internal Branding Strategy Can Be Smarter than United Airlines.

Strategy 72

Strategy Strategy Underperforming Technical Team Technical Review 72

BrainZooming

MAY 26, 2017

Diet Coke Strategy: Translating small to sip-sized. And rather than seeking permission for the change, this branding strategy idea begs forgiveness later – if ever! Diet Coke Strategy: Borrowing “mini” and using it in a maxi fashion across the entire side of the box. This takes advantage of alliteration and whimsy. ounce cans.

Strategy 83

Strategy Strategy Exercises Product Strategy 83

BrainZooming

MARCH 16, 2016

Whenever possible, we try to help clients select a mix of people to participate in group strategy exercises. We review the importance of including front-line decision makers, functional experts, and individuals with creative perspectives. 9 Ideas on How to Involve a Team in Group Strategy Exercises. – Mike Brown.

Exercises 40

Exercises Groups Strategy Strategy 40

BrainZooming

MAY 9, 2017

In the new Brainzooming strategy eBook 321 GO! , we share common situations standing in the way of successfully implementing your most important strategies. Creative Thinking: What Is the Right Size for a Brainstorming Group? 5 Ways to Start Implementing Faster and Better!

Collaboration 77

Collaboration Meeting Strategic Thinking Creative Thinking 77

BrainZooming

JULY 25, 2016

The thing is, unsuccessful employee engagement strategies are not an employee problem. It is a LEADERSHIP problem when purported employee engagement strategies are not working. We see great leaders among our clients successfully taking steps that meaningfully involve employees in shaping strategy and implementation.

Engagement 40

Engagement Strategy Strategy Strategic Thinking 40

BrainZooming

JUNE 26, 2018

Talking with one city’s representatives about strategies to sell-in a broadband recommendation with voters, they asked whether it is okay to engage its citizens after city leadership develops a recommendation. Engage your audience in collaborative strategic planning earlier than later. – Mike Brown.

Collaboration 59

Collaboration Engagement Strategic Thinking Leadership 59

BrainZooming

APRIL 22, 2016

I debuted a presentation on “Results – Creating Strategic Impact,” our mini-book on employee engagement ideas to boost an organization’s strategic thinking. Increase focus for your team with productive strategy questions everyone can use. Actively engage stakeholders in strategy AND implementation success.

Engagement 40

Engagement Strategic Thinking Underperforming Technical Team Exercises 40

BrainZooming

FEBRUARY 12, 2016

There are a couple of different ways to apply structure to strategic planning exercises : You can enforce using templates and forms participants have to complete so their answers are uniformed and structured. After this strategic collaboration, a full-time strategic planner (i.e., FREE Download: “Results!!!

Exercises 40

Exercises Strategic Thinking Collaboration Strategy 40

BrainZooming

JUNE 28, 2016

In an edited excerpt, here is what they shared in their Inside the Executive Suite column about streamlining strategic planning. 5 Keys to Streamlining Strategic Planning. Most executives can’t write a strategy plan, so don’t make them. Executives that SHOULD know how to develop and write a strategic plan struggled.

Exercises 65

Exercises Strategy Strategy Collaboration 65

BrainZooming

MARCH 8, 2016

mini-Book, we ask a question about the biggest strategy implementation opportunity or challenge the individual is facing in his or her organization. and listed “unfreezing (a) team, moving forward, and preparing for growth” as the strategic task at hand. Creating Organizational Change and Change Management – 4 Strategy Options.

Change 40

Change Strategic Thinking Strategy Strategy 40

BrainZooming

NOVEMBER 13, 2015

Great branding strategy examples abound. If your organization specializes in one particular area, your branding strategy discussions should include the question: “If our customers can think it, can we make it?” They need strategic thinkers who can develop strategy and turn it into results. Flexibility?

Strategy 40

Strategy Strategy Guidelines Engagement 40

BrainZooming

FEBRUARY 23, 2016

Letting everyone know upfront that WE will handle turning the input into a strategic plan (so they don’t have to). Designing strategic thinking questions leading to engaging conversation among familiar and new participants. 10 Keys to Engaging Stakeholders to Improve Strategic Results. – Mike Brown.

Strategic Thinking 40

Strategic Thinking Exercises Collaboration Groups 40

BrainZooming

JANUARY 22, 2016

These fourteen articles recap our thinking and recommendations across these three areas. Strategic Planning – All the Strategy Roles You Need. Strategic Thinking Perspectives – Three Strategic Voices to Include on Your Team. Strategic Visioning Exercises – Group Collaboration the Right Way.

Exercises 40

Exercises Collaboration Strategic Thinking Strategy 40

BrainZooming

SEPTEMBER 28, 2015

On Wednesday, I delivered the closing keynote at the Real Time Marketing Lab with a mini-workshop on using strategic thinking super models to help C-suite executives understand social networking and content marketing strategy. In short they need strategic thinkers who can develop strategy and turn it into results.

Collaboration 40

Collaboration Strategic Thinking Groups Engagement 40

BrainZooming

FEBRUARY 26, 2016

We’re big proponents of the value of bringing together a diverse group of people with varied creative thinking skills for strategic planning workshops within organizations and communities. Often, however, executives jump too quickly to flying everyone into one place for a big strategic planning meeting.

Collaboration 40

Collaboration Creative Thinking Exercises Groups 40

BrainZooming

AUGUST 30, 2016

There is a mutual contribution from both parties toward the strategy and ideas. Increase focus for your team with productive strategy questions everyone can use. Actively engage stakeholders in strategy AND implementation success. If you enjoyed this article, subscribe to the free Brainzooming blog email updates.

Collaboration 92

Collaboration Strategy Strategy Creative Thinking 92

BrainZooming

JANUARY 20, 2016

What is the business strategy behind launching this new program? Creating Strategic Impact” Senior executives are looking for employees who are strong collaborators and communicators while being creative and flexible. In short they need strategic thinkers who can develop strategy and turn it into results.

Project 40

Project Strategic Thinking Strategy Strategy 40

BrainZooming

NOVEMBER 11, 2015

Because of this, the list was worthless for doing what I suspect everyone hoped it would do: provide a starting point for the strategic thinking needed to back into a definition of and explanation for what the new initiative would turn out to be. 6 Ways to Organize Ideas from Strategic Planning Exercises.

Exercises 40

Exercises Strategic Thinking Groups Engagement 40

BrainZooming

OCTOBER 1, 2015

It’s often a challenge to describe what Brainzooming is to people that haven’t participated directly in collaborative strategy or innovation workshops. It’s such a foreign idea to most people that you can invite more than a couple of people together to collaborate and actually have an incredibly productive experience.

Collaboration 40

Collaboration Exercises Strategic Thinking Brainstorming 40

BrainZooming

JANUARY 25, 2016

You know, this week doesn’t have to be as unproductive as last week, what with business meetings going nowhere along with wasting time, positive energy, and any hope of creativity. The thing is, there’s a different way to structure business meetings to help a group come together and collaborate in an innovative, productive way.

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Meeting Collaboration Creative Thinking Tips 40

BrainZooming

SEPTEMBER 1, 2015

Creating Strategic Impact” Leaders are looking for powerful ways to engage strong collaborators to shape shared visions. They need strategic thinkers who can develop strategy and turn it into results. Increase focus for your team with productive strategy questions everyone can use.

Leadership 40

Leadership Underperforming Technical Team Creative Thinking Meeting 40

BrainZooming

APRIL 25, 2016

At a Brainzooming internal branding strategy workshop I was presenting , one attendee remarked about wanting more vision statement examples. From what she described, her company’s leadership had rushed to develop big strategy statements (such as a core purpose, vision statement, or mission statement), but was now rethinking its direction.

Examples 40

Examples Strategy Strategy Conference 40

BrainZooming

JANUARY 11, 2016

Here’s an idea for a new strategic thinking exercise that can be a big help. 4 Ways to Examine Brand Performance as a Strategic Thinking Exercise. This is definitely a strategic thinking exercise idea from the Brainzooming R&D lab. Actively engage more employees in strategy AND implementation success.

Strategic Thinking 40

Strategic Thinking Exercises Creativity Engagement 40