In the right setting, when two or more are gathered together for a common purpose, unexpected break-through takes place. After years of leading teams and small groups, I am always amazed at the power of the collective genius. What is the Collective Genius? It's about the fresh new perspective that results when we tap into the co-creative potential of each team member.  The "co" in co-creative is about collaboration. As each person contributes, ideas build – one upon the other – until suddenly we have what I call the AH-HA moment.

Unleash the Ah-Ha's!

Someone takes hold of all the contributions, sees clearly and summarizes it for the group.  It's not about "who" finally has that point of clarity, because without the contributions, this particular idea would not occur.  The TEAM in this case is the Genius, not the individual.

In the right setting… Not all groups are created equal.  In the wrong setting what rises to the surface is the Power of Chaos & Discord. So how do Leaders prepare the way so that the Genius surfaces?

Keys to success:

Learn their Language

Invest the time to understand the value of each team member.  Recognize not only their experiences & training, but how they show up from a personality perspective.  As a licensed Trainer & Reseller with Laurie Beth Jones Inc., we use  PEP™ (The Four Elements of Success: Path Personality Profile™) with our clients.  Using the elements found in nature (Earth, Wind, Water & Fire) we learn how to best communicate with each member.

Balance the Team

Nature requires a balance of the four elements and so does your team.  If the nature of your work requires that your team be made up of primarily 2 or 3 personality types, consider inviting others in the organization to round out your team for purposes of your creative session.  For example: a sales team will probably be made up of Wind and Fire personalities.  Wind brings the fresh new ideas and fans the flame that Fire adds to bring these ideas into focus. Fire paints the vision.  But who will get the work done?  Who knows the existing processes best? Earth & Water bring in the missing pieces to this puzzle. Without agreement from the rest of the organization, all you have is just an idea.

Set the Expectation

Pre-Meeting Preparation State the desired outcomes. Allow your team members time to prepare by informing them well before the event what is expected of them.  What do you want each person to walk away with?  What about the collective results you want to achieve?  How will you measure success?

Discuss the rules of engagement Create a safe, friendly and open environment. Participation is key.  Listen; don't interrupt.  Cell phone and lap top use tend to disrupt the creative process.  We recommend "no".

Show up Fully – don't hold back Collaboration is one of the keys to success.  Without agreement by the participants to leave "I" out of the room and consider "we", what we have is a group of folks competing to be "right" and have the "last word".   While there is a degree of compromise required, it quickly takes a back seat to the value of the collective genius.  After a few successful events,  you'll find it's totally worth it!

Facilitate

Make sure everyone participates. Honor the various personalities and talents in the room. Recognize that all do not process information the same way.  Consistently recap the ah-ha's and challenge each member with "what is the take-away"? Listen more; talk less.

As I conclude, I am reminded of a verse in the Bible:  "Two are better than one, because they have a good [more satisfying] reward for their labor" Ecclesiastes 4:9 (AMP).   While I didn't intend to conclude with a spiritual perspective, it clearly supports this message.

Unleash the Power of Genius in your Team!