To often sessions designed to generate ideas are dysfunctional. Participants seldom taking notes, no one listening to others, leaving with a different idea of what was discussed, what was agreed upon.
Listening seems to be a skill worthy of development and focus in our teams and schools.
Taking notes is the proof. It requires listening with enough attention to actually make an effort to jot down someone else's idea. Maybe it's not the idea but just what was said, often in review, this leads to great insight.
All to often participants seem to think or act as if their sole responsibility is to provide ideas, not build conversation adding to what was said.
I can't count how often someone has an "original" idea, that was mentioned by someone else 15 min before.
Often members seem happy that the meeting even happened. They are not critical about content, participation or follow through as if that is someone else's responsibility.
Innovation stems from good conversation, good conversation means good listening. A lost art form.
In a world of "cut and paste" and digital searches, manual tactile writing engages you brain in a similar way as doodling. We need to teach listening to our children if they are to solve the big complex problems we intend to leave for them.
Let me know your thoughts...
