You’re leading a top-flight team who have lots of creative energy. You want to engage them, give them opportunities to contribute, and tap into their brilliance and diversity.

So you set up a meeting to brainstorm ideas, or collaborate on problem-solving, or develop a strategy for a new project.

Most brainstorming sessions are done all wrong.

For one thing, you should never start with a GOOD idea.

That is not a typo.

If it's on you to lead the meeting, begin by throwing out a completely TERRIBLE idea.

I LOVE terrible ideas! The more outrageous the better.

Terrible ideas can be incredibly useful when you’re brainstorming with your team, as long as they’re BAD enough.

Why? Because it sets the bar so low that suddenly your team will come to life. They'll be prompted to chime in not only on why it is such a horrible idea, but also how it can be improved.

And they’ll feel more confident speaking up, offering alternatives, and building toward a workable and successful solution.

If you suddenly feel ganged up on, congratulations! You did it.

I’ve seen horrible ideas be transformed into successful solutions when team members become engaged in collaborative discussions, ultimately getting rid of the original idea's most egregious characteristics and saving only whatever golden nuggets may remain.

You might think you're helping by initiating a brainstorm with a completely brilliant, waterproof idea, but you’ll most likely be met with utter silence. After all, you’re the boss, right?

Even those who arrived prepared with ideas they were excited to share will now keep their mouths shut.

And you’ll never know what they were thinking or what smart ideas they were excited about sharing themselves.

So start with an absolutely terrible, horrible, no-good, completely outrageous idea. And then sit back and watch just how creative, brilliant, and accomplished your team really is.

image: AbsolutVision