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A flexible work schedule gives a lot of freedom to the team. But what are the pros and cons? How to set up the right flexible hours in your workplace? Read on!

Flexible Hours

Flexible hours refer to the work schedule that allows employees to start and finish the workday at their own convenience. This means that there are no fixed work timings and employees do not have to come to work at any set time. This system is in contrast with the traditional work arrangements.

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What is flex shift?

What is Flexi shift? A Flexi shift is when an employee is required to work a fixed amount of hours during a particular time period at a shift of his/her own choosing. The shift working timings may depend on the employee’s availability and convenience.

What is flexible scheduling in the workplace?

Flexible scheduling in the workplace allows employees to choose their preferred working flexible hours that differ from the traditional schedules. Flexible scheduling at the workplace gives employees the power to make their own work schedule and find a work-life balance that suits them.

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Employer expectations from flex hours system

Before implementing a flexible hour policy, employers should know their expectations from the flex hours system. It is also important to make these expectations very clear to the employees in order to avoid any sort of misunderstanding. Flex schedule policy must be prepared in advance.

Minimum working hours criteria in flexi hour system

Employees working flex hours are expected to meet or exceed the minimum working hour criteria. Employers can fix the number of flexible hours required in a week from the employees for e.g, 40 hours/week.

Flexing hours policy require employees to work core hours

Few companies need employees to be present in the office during core hours and the rest of the work can be done during flexible hours. Flex hours policy should define these core hours, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., as an example.

Meet deadlines during flex hours jobs

It doesn’t matter at what time the employee is working as long as the set deadlines are met. This is an important aspect of the flex hours policy. Employees working flexible hours are expected to finish work within the deadline. 

Flexible schedule requires employees to fulfill goals

Managers and employees should mutually agree on weekly and monthly goals to be achieved by the employee during the flex hours schedule. The employee is responsible to fulfill goals under the flexible hours’ policy. Employees in a flexible workplace are still responsible for performing their job efficiently.

Flexi working expects employees to be faithful

Employers extending flexible hours policy are putting their trust in the employees to work diligently. Employers expect employees working flex hours to make effective use of company time and resources in order to contribute towards the company’s growth. Misuse of the policy is unethical.

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Benefits of flexible working arrangements for employees

More and more people are looking for organizations that allow flexible hours of work. It makes employees feel that they are in control of their lives. Let us look into several other benefits of flexible working arrangements for employees that make it lucrative,

Flexi work allows work-life balance

Work-life balance is one of the main benefits of flexible working arrangements for employees. Employees can work at flexible hours that suit them and allows them to create a balance between both personal and professional relationships.

A flexible workweek allows fulfilling personal obligations

Amongst the several benefits of flexible working arrangements for employees, the opportunity to fulfill personal obligations is another winner. Some people prefer flexible hours for working due to personal reasons such as taking care of the elderly, kids, sick family members, etc.

Flexible work arrangement makes employees most productive

Benefits of flexible working arrangements for employees include the opportunity to work when they feel they are the most productive. Flexible hours consider the fact that not everyone can be productive during the traditional daytime working hours.

A flexible work environment help avoid rush hours

The benefits of flexible working arrangements for employees consist of avoiding rush hour traffic. Employees waste a large chunk of their valuable time stuck in traffic while commuting to the office. Flexible hours can help in avoiding this.

Rejection of traditional and unhealthy working style

Flexible hours help in employee retention and employee hiring by rejecting the traditional and unhealthy ways of working. The benefits of flexible working arrangements for employees have made the new generation to be more inclined towards a flexible system of working. 

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Disadvantages of flexi times to employers

Implementing flexi times might not always be a good idea. There are several complications and challenges that employers need to overcome in order to make the flexible hours model work effectively. Let us look into the different disadvantages of flextime that employers may face,

Flex shift makes it harder to keep track of work

Flexi times means managers will not be able to supervise their employees at all times. Few employees might be working remotely during flexible hours. This makes it harder for employers and supervisors to stay updated with their employee’s work progress. 

Flexible work hour lacks employer supervision

Employers may face the challenge of supervising their employees during Flexi times. Special provisions should be made prior to implementing a flexible hours policy in the workplace. Few employees get complacent in the absence of the manager’s supervision which might affect work productivity.

Flexibility working hours may lead to employee isolation

Employees working flexible hours may often feel isolated and lonely. Employers need to pay attention to such employees and involve them in day-to-day activities to keep them occupied. Flexi times employees should be made to feel like part of the team.

Flexi work hours can cause communication difficulties

Employers often face communication difficulties while dealing with employees working flexible hours. Since face-to-face communication is not possible all the time, managing flexi-time might pose challenges in front of the managers. Separate communication platforms are required to stay connected.

Few employees can misuse the flexi working hours benefit

Employees working flexi hours might take the wrong advantage and indulge in recreational activities during company time. Few employees find it difficult to work without supervision and struggle with flexible hours working. Misusing company resources is a serious issue faced by employers.

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Disadvantages of flexible hour job to employees

Flexible hour job shifts allow employees to pick their own working hours. Flexible hours of working might not always be in favor of the employees causing a lack of productivity. Here are some of the disadvantages of flexible work schedules faced by employees,

A flexible working hour means missing out on social lives

Flexible hour job shifts mean employees working at different flexible hours as per their convenience. This means they will miss out on the social aspect of a workplace as they are not in regular contact with their team members.

Flex working hours may lead to procrastination

Employees doing flexible hour job shifts may often get lazy and procrastinate their work due to a lack of fixed working hours and supervision. Procrastination due to flexible hours then leads to stress as employees create tighter deadlines for themselves by delaying their work.  

Flexibility working may lead to working overtime

Employees often lose track of time while working and mess up their work-life balance by working overtime. As there are flexible hours of work, managers often feel it completely alright to ping at unconventional hours that lead to flexible hour job overtime.

Flex work hours may give the wrong idea in the society

People working flexible hour job shifts might give the idea of having no work to society. Flexible hours are often done remotely from home which might give an impression to other people that the employee is free all the time.  

Flexible work arrangements might cause stress

Flexible hour job shifts often lead to unwanted stress amongst the employees when they are not able to manage time efficiently. Employees working flexible hours may observe low productivity and growth at the workplace that leads to an increase in stress.

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How to implement flexible schedules in the workplace?

Proper planning is needed to implement flexible schedules in the workplace. Blindly agreeing to give flexible hours of working to employees is not a very feasible option. Here are the different steps one can follow to implement an efficient flexible program in place.

Start working flexible hours as a pilot project

Flexible schedules in the workplace must be started on a pilot basis to check efficiency. The flexible hours’ facility might not be suited to your particular organization and a pilot project would also reveal loopholes in the system if any. 

Evaluate the outcome of flexible work

After implementing flexible schedules in the workplace for a month or a week, evaluate the results. Weigh out the pros and the cons to understand if flexible hours of working suit your company. Understand the problems faced and address the issues to make it a more workable model.

Implement flexibility schedule with good communication channels

A flexible schedule in the workplace needs a good communication medium to keep employees connected even when they are working flexible hours. Before implementing flexible work schedules, discuss with your employees about the different communication channels to see what suits them the best.

Train to manage employees with flexible schedules

Flexible schedules in the workplace are not common in many organizations, hence special training should be provided to the managers and team leaders. The special training must focus on training managers on managing a team working flexible hours. 

Plan flexible work environments for your organization

Flexible schedules in the workplace vary from company to company. There is no one plan that fits all hence planning out a system that works for your organizational needs is a very important step. Flexible hours must be systemized before agreeing to them. 

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Key components to be included in a flexible schedule policy

If you want to implement a successful flexible schedule policy, you need to ensure that you have included all the key components that are required to make it efficient. Flexible hours of working can go against you if you are not prepared.

Include clear work expectations in flex schedule policy

Before implementing a flexible schedule policy, make your expectations from the employees absolutely clear.  Convey your requirements and let them know the minimum amount of working flexible hours you are expecting. Avoid any miscommunication and keep the weekly and daily goals clear.

Flexi hours policy must include minimum working hours

While implementing a flexible schedule policy, employees often procrastinate the work due to the lack of supervision. To avoid such scenarios, managers and supervisors must communicate the minimum number of flexible hours expected from the employee dedicated to working.

Flexible work schedules and remote communication tools

A flexible schedule policy often faces communication challenges between the employees and the managers. Take the help of remote communication tools such as video conferencing apps, slack, zoom, skype, etc to stay connected with the employee during flexible hours of working.

Flexi working policy should come up with clear guidelines

Lay down the guidelines and rules in advance regarding the flexible schedule policy to avoid any misunderstandings at a later stage. Methods of tracking the flexible hours, what are the metrics for performance measurement, reporting methods, etc must be pre-defined.

A flexible workforce and constant feedback system

A flexible schedule policy at the workplace often leaves employees feeling lonely and isolated. Employees working flexible hours do not come in regular contact with the other team members. Ensure that they are given constant feedback on their work progress.

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What is the core hours policy?

What are core hours? Core hours are the fixed working hours when everyone has to be in the office. Core hours policy at the workplace demands the presence of employees in the office during core hours. The rest of the work can be done during flexible hours.  

What are the various types of flexible work schedules?

Let us see the different types of schedule flexibility that can be implemented in the workplace,

• Remote work allows employees to work from anywhere at their convenience.
• A part-time work schedule involves flexible hours for those who cannot work full-time.

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Whether it is thinking of a new idea for work or finding the solution to a problem, the process of brainstorming techniques is not so easy. Read on!

Also, one might not be able to come up with new ideas instantly. The only option left at such a stage is to use the technique of brainstorming. Brainstorming is one of the most effective techniques for finding new ideas or solutions.

Companies use brainstorming techniques all the time to develop new ideas and solutions to any existing problem. But the question remains; What is brainstorming? In this article, we’ll learn about brainstorming, its uses, and the different brainstorming techniques used by both individuals and groups.

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What is brainstorming?

If we go by the definition of brainstorming in Merriam-Webster, it is a group problem-solving technique that involves the spontaneous contribution of ideas from all members of the group. What it simply means is that brainstorming is a group process to find out new ideas.

In brainstorming, one or more individuals (in the case of group brainstorming) come together to share their ideas regarding a common goal. All these ideas are noted down during the session. And after the session is over, based on the value of the ideas, the best one is implemented. We can better understand brainstorming through these two examples,

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What is the purpose of brainstorming?

Many times, people tend to be reluctant to share their ideas. This is because they fear being judged by others. The primary purpose of brainstorming is to remove that fear. As every idea is noted down during a brainstorming session, that way team members tend to be more active and less frightened of judgment. It also increases the quantity of possible new ideas, whether they are suitable for implementation or not.

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Difference between individual & group brainstorming

As seen from the examples mentioned above, brainstorming techniques can be carried out by a group or a single person. When a single person uses brainstorming techniques to find new ideas, it is called individual brainstorming. On the other hand, when more than one person indulges in brainstorming activities, it is called group brainstorming.

Both of which have their own sets of pros and cons. For example, an individual can come up with more original ideas than a group. But, solving problems regarding those ideas becomes easier in a group than a single person.

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What are the different types of brainstorming techniques?

Brainstorming techniques are methods used by an individual or a group during a brainstorming session to come up with new ideas. There are several types of brainstorming techniques available for use.

The list of brainstorming techniques is a long one and can’t be covered in a single article. And for this purpose, we’ll be discussing the seven most effective brainstorming techniques,

1. Charrette method

This is one of the brainstorming techniques that divides the large group into smaller sub-groups. Each sub-group is given a topic to discuss and pass on to the next sub-group. After all the sub-groups have discussed the topic, the leading person collects all the ideas and evaluates them to find out the most suitable one. It is one of the most refined brainstorming techniques as the idea gets scrutinized several times before being implemented.

2. Round Robin brainstorming technique

Round robin is a popular brainstorming method. In this, each member of the group sits in a circle, and one after another writes or speaks aloud their ideas. The benefit of this brainstorming technique is that everyone takes an active part in the process. So, there are no bystanders during the session.

3. Starbursting brainstorming techniques

This brainstorming technique frequently used by companies to come up with new ideas. In this brainstorming method, the participants, instead of finding solutions, are asked to find questions relating to the topic. After they have covered all the possible questions about the given topic, they eventually start to answer them.

4. Step ladder brainstorming techniques

This process of brainstorming techniques has the least amount of bias. This is because, in this brainstorming technique, individuals have to come up with their original ideas before discussing them with others. It is done by asking two members to start the discussion on the given topic and then gradually adding more members to it one by one. Thus, there is less chance of members getting biased while coming up with the ideas.

5. Mind mapping brainstorming techniques

Mind mapping is both a creative and analytical brainstorming method. Here, the core idea is drawn in the middle of a page, and related subtopics are drawn around the core idea. The process is repeated, treating each subtopic as the core idea until all the elements are covered. Being both creative and analytical is more effective in finding a solution.

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6. Reverse brainstorming techniques

is one of the oldest and effective brainstorming techniques. Coming up with new ideas at the drop of a hat is quite tricky at times, and thus this brainstorming method becomes effective. In this method, the participants are asked to find problems related to the given topic. After listing all the issues associated with the topic, they start finding the opposite ideas to the problem. And thus, as a by-product, they find the required solution.

7. Online brainstorming techniques

Also called ‘virtual brainstorming’ or ‘electronic brainstorming’.  Here a group of people indulges in a brainstorming session over the internet. Unlike traditional brainstorming, here the members of the group don’t require to be present at the same place. They can be a part of the session for remote places.

One of the most common online brainstorming techniques is sharing ideas to collaborate over software like Google Docs, online whiteboards, or a virtual watercooler software, like unremot. Many people also use mind mapping software to create and share mind maps with the other participants over the internet.

8. Gap filling to brainstorm ideas

One of the different types of brainstorming techniques where you need to initiate your statement mentioning the state of where you are currently with the problem. Then mention a statement of what you want to achieve. The participants will brainstorm ideas to fill in the gap to reach the goal. Collect all the brainstorm possible solutions and organize them.

9. Drivers analysis brainstorming methods

One of the brainstorming methods or ideas generation methods to decipher the business drivers behind the problems. The drivers can be related to productivity, market intelligence, competition etc. Once you understand the drivers through the brainstorm exercises, it paves the way to create an acceptable solution.

10. SWOT Analysis for brainstorm exercise

A very popular brainstorm exercise and one of the best methods of brainstorming for identifying the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of a company or idea or a solution. It is a sort of perfect brainstorm process where you can potentially derive new ideas in each of the categories for a detailed analysis.

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11. The five whys for a brain storming exercise

One of the very popular and best brainstorming techniques used for a brainstorming exercise. The Five Whys guides in enhancing the thought processes. In this particular brainstorming activity, you need to ask questions starting with a “Why” and continue of deep dive to arrive at the root cause of the problem or issue.

12. Brain writing as a brainstorm method

A brainstorm method developed by Crawford, a renowned professor, in the 1920s. It is one of the interesting brainstorming activities for adults. Index cards are distributed where each participant anonymously writes down their ideas. The ideas are then randomly circulated across the other participants for adding or criticizing the ideas.

13. Collaborative brainwriting as a brainstorming method

It is one of the good group brainstorming strategies for generating ideas collaboratively. In this brainstorming method, the moderator writes the question or issue on a big piece of paper. The paper is then posted to all the participants for collating their ideas that can be done by forming groups.

14. Role storming idea generating technique

In this idea generating technique, the participants are asked to imagine themselves as a customer or a manager to whom the idea is related. The process of brainstorming involves enacting the roles, expressing the levels of satisfaction and acceptance of the solution. Discuss the expected outcomes and arrive at a creative brainstorming proposition.

15. Figure storming as ideas generation techniques

One of the unique brainstorming ideas generation techniques. In this brainstorming method, a familiar fictional or historical character is selected. The participants have to imagine how the person would have handled the particular problem and approached the solution. Quite an innovative examples of brainstorming techniques and brainstorming innovation method.

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16. Rapid ideation brainstorming processes

Rapid ideation is one of the useful and interesting brainstorming processes. These particular brainstorming techniques indulges the participants to write down fruitful ideas in a specified period. They need to share the ideas with the whole group aloud in the brain storming process; a way to collate and deliberate on the thoughts.

17. Trigger storming group brainstorming techniques

Trigger storming is one of the group brainstorming techniques where you can go ahead with effective brainstorming by dividing the participants into groups. Each group is provided with a trigger statement to start with that they need to complete as a way to resolve the problems in this particular brainstorming exercise.

18. What-if brainstorm techniques

What-If is one of the prominent brainstorm techniques followed by many companies worldwide. In this brainstorming process, you need to ask several What-if questions to arrive at the solution. It can be the best way to brainstorm creative and fun-filled ideas from the participants with different ways of thinking.

19. Six thinking hats as one of the brainstorming strategies

Six Thinking Hats is one of the interesting brainstorming strategies where the participants are encouraged to wear different types of hats. It can be of a customer, senior manager, an observer, etc. The hats assist in visualizing the issues through different angles and then resolving them appropriately in this particular idea generation technique.

20. Word banking group brainstorming techniques

Word Banking is an intelligent and intellectual-based group brainstorming techniques. List down some words and ideas related to the problems. Divide the participants into groups and share words that are relatable and ask them to define a topic with them. It is one of the creative brainstorming exercises for dividing the program or project into meaningful work packets.

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Top 5 brainstorming ideas

In this section, we will discuss the top 5 brainstorming ideas that will be in sync with the brainstorming techniques defined in the previous section. How do brainstorm ideas in the sessions to arrive at an acceptable solution? or What does brainstorming involve? Brainstorming companies must be aware that brainstorming is the basic technique of ideating solutions, as elaborated below.

Intellectual brainstorming session ideas

Here are some of the intellectual brainstorming session ideas to select and refer to,

• Select some random brainstorming alternatives ideas good or bad
• Analyze and deep dive into each through brainstorming facilitation techniques
• Finalize the best ones for the brainstorming solutions

Interesting brainstorm session ideas

Illustrated below are some of the interesting brainstorm session ideas for guidance,

• Invite a small group for the brain storming process
• Apply one of the popular methods of generating ideas within the group
• Select the brainstorming formats – online, written or verbal depending on the brainstorm methods
• Consult a brainstorming article, work on drawing different types of brainstorming charts and prepare a list of brainstorming question or questions.

Individual brainstorming ideas

Some brainstorming ideas that need individual attention and focus,

• Adopting the brainstorming techniques best suited for your company and the problems at hand
• Introduce some brainstorming creative games and activities
• Allow space for some brainstorming creativity thoughts and ideas
• Bring in good brainstorming for discussion and analysis

Fun-filled brainstorm meeting ideas

Brainstorm meeting ideas filled with fun or fun brainstorming activities are sure to boost up the interest level of the participants,

• You can ask the team to imagine themselves as cartoon fictional characters for the brainstorming prompts
• They can try to interpret the problems by putting the hat of those characters as an innovative brainstorming method

Structured brainstorming ideas

How do you brainstorm fruitfully and in a structured manner?

• Always defer judgment on the solutions at the end of the brainstorm workshop
• Suggest to focus on individuals and each of their brainstorm idea
• If in groups, allow the members to think collectively for better brainstorm facilitation

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Top 5 brain storming games

In the previous sections, we have gained considerable experience in the different brainstorming techniques and idea generation techniques as well. In this section, we will focus on prevalent brain storming games that can be conducted between the participants for fun-filled ways to brainstorm ideas. These are some of the effective ways to brainstorm solution and also go for an effective brainstorming design.

Non-judgemental brainstorming game

Considered to be a great brainstorming game where the participants are invited to share their ideas randomly. It is one of the effective brainstorming techniques for collecting a plethora of ideas to decide and analyze. Besides in this brainstorming methodology, you can organize a vote on the key ideas collected to arrive at a consensus.

News conference brainstorming games

One of the interesting brainstorming games and creative brainstorming techniques to play in pairs. You must prepare some brainstorm topics examples for the pairs to ponder upon. They are then invited to debate and argue with each other for firming their solution and ideas. Among the various types of brainstorming strategies, News Conference is considered to be an interesting one.

Create brainstorming list via The in-and-out game

In this particular brainstorming technique or game, you must create a brainstorming list of ideas and topics. From the brainstorming lists of ideas, ask the participants to hear out and do a thumbs up and thumbs down on each. One of the prominent brainstorm activities for adults to arrive at a relevant conclusion.

Persona brainstorm solutions and games

Persona brainstorm solutions and games are essentially a way to represent characters and enact their expectations. The persona can be of a customer or internal stakeholders of the company. You can also select an anti-persona character to create a counter outcome to the ideas. A typical brainstorming example can be a customer vs a competitor.

Team brainstorming via group sketching

If you are looking for a team brainstorming game, then group sketching is one of the ideal brainstorming techniques for groups. It can be in the form of brainstorming graphics online or handmade diagrams. One participant starts and then the drawing is further enhanced in sequence by the rest of the participants; a replica of the solution is thus invented through the brainstorming graphic images or drawings.

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Top 5 brainstorm activities

Let us now discuss some interesting and fun brainstorming activities for professionals. These activities will act as a guide for conducting different ways to brainstorm ideas and potential solutions. Be it brainstorming in business or a corporate, you can refer to the top 5 brainstorm activities or brainstorm techniques as a ready reckoner.

Pushy Salesperson brainstorm activity

If you are looking for ideas on brainstorming exercises for groups, the best is the pushy salesperson brainstorm activity. Divide into groups and ask each group to sell a product or service. You can derive the features that need to be present in the product or service depending on the convincing abilities; one of the interesting brainstorming techniques.

Zero draft method as an example of brainstorming activities

The zero draft method is one of the simplest examples of brainstorming activities wherein ideas are started afresh. The objective, expected outcome, ideas, and the stakeholders are all written down leveraging brainstormer online mechanisms or through brainstorming, help write-ups. This particular example of brainstorming activity is slow yet smooth and seamless.

Like or dislike brainstorming activities

Prepare a brainstorm list of potential ideas for the solution. Place it before the participants as you initiate the brainstorming activities. Each individual needs to like or dislike the contents in the list through idea brainstorming. It is one of the business brainstorming strategies to shortlist potential ideas.

Word association group brainstorming activities

Word association is one of the popular group brainstorming activities. The concept of this idea brainstorm technique is to break down the project or program into multiple tasks. Similar words are grouped to associate with each task to derive a solution by connecting ideas and thoughts.

Format game as one of the team brainstorming activities

Format game is one of the interesting team brainstorming activities. Brainstorming groups are provided with different content formats like checklist, glossary, infographic, podcast etc. Each participant pens down the ideas related to the content format. Well, one of the typical brainstorming activities for groups to ponder upon vivid ideas and arrive at prospective solutions.

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Interesting brain storming examples

The brain storming examples in this section will help you to conduct your brain storming sessions effectively and efficiently. You can ideate well since brainstorming is the basic technique for developing potential solutions to problems. And the brainstorming list example or examples mentioned in this section will be helpful.

Group based brainstorming examples

A company needs to launch an ad campaign for one of its new products. The creative team is required to come up with ideas for the campaign. All members of the creative team will sit and discuss various ideas that come to their minds.

Someone takes note of all the ideas during the session, then they evaluate them when the session is over. After the evaluation, the most relevant idea will be turned into an ad for the product. This group discussion is an example of brainstorming.

Imagery based brainstorm examples

A graphic designer is asked to design a logo for the client. First, they will gather information about the client and its nature. After that, they will try to find out imagery that suits the client and its environment the best.

When they find the perfect imagery, they will begin to work on designing the logo. In this case, the technique implemented, where they thought and looked for ideas to find the perfect imagery, to match the client’s needs can be called brainstorming.

Brainstorming ideas examples through efficient moderated sessions

One of the brainstorming ideas examples is to select the qualified moderator for the sessions. The moderator presents the problem to the group and initiates a discussion with the participants. In this brainstorming session example, the moderator plan and organizes the sessions, welcoming ideas from the participants to arrive at the required outcome.

Examples of brainstorming exercises and games

Brainstorming exercises, games, and fun-filled activities are the best examples of conducting a fruitful group brainstorm session. Brainstorming is the basic technique for developing new ideas by creating different types of brainstorming diagrams, playing interesting games of word shuffle, character imitations, etc.

Brainstorming sample for tutorials

It is good to refer to a brainstorming tutorial for conducting an effective session by following the popular brainstorming techniques. A typical brainstorming sample for such tutorials must comprise a template to collect data about the program, ideas and likes/dislikes template for shortlisting ideas.

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Rules to be followed while using brainstorming techniques

The brainstorming techniques are only as good as their implementation. How they have been carried out plays a significant role in the result. Thus, it is always advised to follow these general rules given below to make sure the brainstorming session is productive,

1. Judgment is one of the biggest hindrances to new ideas. Many times, people feel reluctant to share their ideas due to the fear of being judged. And hence, many great ideas don’t even get the chance to be discussed. Thus deferring any form of judgment is the key to find out the best idea.
2. Treating each idea as equal. Sometimes, some of the ideas may sound quite extreme or wild. But it is to be remembered that during brainstorming, every opinion counts. Also, these ideas force us to break out of our comfort zones and do something that is innovative. Something which is not possible to do while restricting ourselves to the boundaries of our comfort zone.
3. Encouraging everyone to have active participation. No matter which brainstorming technique is used, it all comes down to the active participation of all team members. The more they are included in it, the better the chances are of coming up with an innovative new idea.
4. Building on each others’ ideas is also something that improves the result of any brainstorming technique. Instead of refuting the idea of fellow participants, everyone should encourage ideas and add to it
5. One of the biggest problems of brainstorming is losing track of the goal. It is quite easy to lose track when multiple directions are being pursued during the session. However, keeping the goal in focus will not only save time but also help come up with better, useful, and relevant ideas.
6. As these brainstorming techniques produce dynamic ideas, it is always better to write down or draw out the ideas using a mind map or other visualization. This will make sure no idea is forgotten throughout the discussion.
7. Every participant needs to be attentive and listen to each other’s ideas. Generally what happens is, after a point in time, everyone starts talking on their own without listening to the other person. Thus, some might lose their attention. To avoid this, only one participant should be allowed to speak at a time without any interruptions from others.
8. Pay more attention to quantity than quality. Striving for quality is something that should be avoided during brainstorming. The sole purpose of this process is to accumulate many ideas. Analysis of the quality of the ideas can be done after the brainstorming session comes to an end. In that way, the number of views will not be limited.

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Advantages and disadvantages of brainstorming techniques

Here are some of the advantages of brainstorming,

1. All ideas from sessions can be used later, even if they are not suitable for implementation at the current moment.
2. The number of possible ideas increases due to the usage of brainstorming techniques.
3. Especially during group brainstorming, the creativity of multiple people helps to find an idea within a shorter period.
4. It allows the person or group of person to use the maximum level of creativity during the session.
5. The ideas coming out from brainstorming get refined due to being discussed by several people.

Here are some of the disadvantages of brainstorming,

1. Some ideas may be unrelated and unsuitable for the topic.
2. It is easy to lose sight of the goal.
3. There is a chance of ideas being biased.
4. Fear of judgment and peer pressure also can be faced especially by the shy participants.

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How to brainstorm effectively when in remote?

How to brain effectively while working with remote team members? Here are some of the steps to follow,

1. Select any of the well-defined brainstorming techniques like starbursting technique, round-robin brainstorming technique, etc.
2. Select a perfect moderator with experience in conducting sessions for ideas brainstorming
3. Refer to articles about brainstorming, brainstorming techniques ppt, self-learning videos, etc. for a better understanding of how to conduct the sessions especially with employees working in a remote environment
4. Leverage the idea of clicking brainstorming photo, drawing graphics, or creating images
5. Utilize online tools as an alternative to brainstorming traditional methods for better participation

Brainstorming techniques if implemented correctly, can help in finding innovative and quick solutions to problems. Thus, it is a valuable method for both individuals and groups when the need arises. All that’s required is to follow the guidelines and have a clear idea of the goal. That way, it is possible to reap the benefit of these techniques.

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What is an example of brainstorming?

Finding the right idea and direction for a new advertising campaign is an example of brainstorming.

Is brainstorming good or bad?

Like every other thing, the use of brainstorming techniques also has its pros and cons; But if used following the right methodology, It can help individuals and teams come up with new ideas for a task.

Can only groups use brainstorming techniques?

No, both groups and individuals can use brainstorming techniques to come up with new ideas or find solutions to problems.

Do you need to be present at the same place for brainstorming?

No, with the increasing use of the internet, even brainstorming doesn’t require everyone to be present at the same place for group brainstorming. They can easily do it remotely from different places in the world. All they require is an internet connection.

Is it difficult to brainstorm?

It becomes quite easy to brainstorm new ideas if the brainstorming techniques are followed properly.

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Imparting the right training and development programs is utmost important need for employee growth in organizations. Learn how to set up a word class training system. Read on!

Training and Development

Training and development are educational activities conducted in companies to enhance the skill and knowledge levels of employees. The program provides information and instructions on how to perform a task more efficiently. You need to understand the difference between training and development. Training is a short-term process with specific goals and processes, while development is a continuous proactive process for career development.

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What is employee training and development?

Companies design their employee training and development programs to help employees learn specific knowledge or skills, to improve their performance in their assigned role. Employee development is more expansive and focuses on employee growth and development, and considers their future growth. Employee development applies to broader skills and is applied to a range of situations. It includes skills like decision-making, communicating, and leadership.

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People development definition

People development definitions are strategies and measures to implement the company goals through appropriate qualification of employees in technical and methodological terms. It helps employees manage and achieve their goals. Companies using people development programs understand the training need for specialists and executives. The development needs of different employees group such as executives, junior leaders, specialists, and high-performing employees, and the people development program need to be customized.

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Objectives of employee training

The main objective of the training and development program is not limited to increased productivity and efficiency. Markets today are demanding, and companies are looking to improve their market share. Companies must learn new skills to add to their existing skills-sets. We have listed the top five objectives of employee training,

Training employees for increased productivity

Productivity is essential if you want to increase your customer base. Slight disturbances can cause losses. One of the ways to tackle the growth is increasing productivity and reduces the cost of the product. Training employees can help increase the productivity of your staff and find effective ways to improve the same thing. Training can give a new outlook to your experienced staff.

Training development program for quality improvement

One of the objectives of the training development program is to improve quality. Customers are demanding and quality conscious. If they are dissatisfied with the quality of your product or service, they will look for alternatives. Companies demand a premium if it offers high-quality products or services.

Employee learning ensures safety

Part of your job description is to ensure the safety of your staff or customer. Employee learning can guarantee your staff, use the equipment correctly, and creates suitable products for the customer. Proper safety training can help you ascertain the employee handles equipment better.

Employee development training helps reducing labor turnover

Your business cannot prosper if you have a high labor turnover. It can result in decreased productivity. Lack of training reduces your employee’s self-confidence. Employee development training ensures your company reduces employee turnover because they feel secure and safe.

Training staff will help them updated with technology

We live in a world where technology is changing rapidly. Training staff will ensure your staff, know the latest technology, techniques, and processes. Training and development programs help to improve productivity and reduce time spent on labor-intensive processes.

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5 steps to create an extensive employees training plan

You want to create an extensive employee training plan to prepare for the future. Training and development program will ensure your staff can adopt new technologies and enter new markets. A badly executed training and development plan can sabotage your efforts and cause a loss in revenue. We have detailed the five crucial steps to develop an extensive employees training plan,

Find out what you need in the human resource training program

Before you begin a human resource training program, you need to understand what is required by your company. Those needs fall into three broad categories,

1. Skills of your current employees and what you need to teach recruits.
2. Skills employees must learn to improve efficiency
3. Skills that employees need to support new products.

Depending on the type of employee, you may need to modify your human resource training program.

Take an inventory of resource before your start staff training and development

You need to list your training needs to build your employee training plan. You need to know what resources you have, your budget, and the support you can provide your HR department. You may need to look at the following checklist,

1. Present training material available
2. Do you have in-house knowledge and resources?
3. Do you have a budget to hire trainers?
4. Do you have a dedicated classroom?
5. Can you use the material freely available online?
6. Are there commercial courses available?
7. How much time can your company and employees set aside for the training?

Ensure management is involved in the training and development plan

Most of your employees are already busy. They need to feel invested in the training and development plan. For employee training and development to work, you need help from their managers or team leader. Your employees should be encouraged to participate. You may have to arrange for funding the training program and convince other management members to invest.

Feedback after the employee seminar

Training programs evolve, you need to change and modify things when required. To identify loopholes after an employee seminar, you need to gather feedback from the stakeholders and learners. It may help you reevaluate the training and development program and revamp it when required.

Create a detailed personnel training program

The final step is to create a blueprint of the personnel training program. It should contain,

1. Detailed curriculum
2. Tools, resources, and support required
3. Content creation and if content can be reused.
4. Schedule with precise dates
5. Evaluation criteria and performance metrics.

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5 key ingredients of employee training policy

What should your training program look like? Many companies think that training and development programs are limited to new employees. They do not implement training modules for employees that help their staff hone existing skills and learn new ones.

A study by Association for Talent Development showed that companies that provide professional training and development have a 24% higher profit margin. We have listed five ingredients of an employee training policy,

Incorporate microlearning in the training and development programs

People have a short attention span of 8 seconds. Microlearning is a technique of having short content that can hold your employee’s interest. Most effective training and development programs have four key characteristics,

1. Lean – Can be delivered by a few trainers
2. Scalable – The solution is applicable to staff at multiple locations
3. Simple – It should be adaptable
4. Seamless – Solutions cannot rely on in-person training.

Multimedia content in professional training and development module

Text-based training material is considered old-fashioned. Effective professional training and development module must use multimedia tools. The multimedia content that is used in training and development are,

1. Video – It is an engaging medium to provide both visual and audio content
2. Interactive – the instructions give employees tasks to complete specific tasks.
3. Image- Photos, infographics, and diagrams.
4. Audio – Podcasts, audiobooks, etc.

Pre and post-training assessment by staff trainer

Assessment helps you determine what your employees learned, and how well they are using and retaining the training material. Pre-assessment will help the staff trainer ascertain the present knowledge levels of your staff, and what they need to learn.

Post assessments allow staff trainers to identify the segments in the training program that need modification and which employees benefited most from the training. Instead of using a questionnaire style to assess training, you can use gamification to access the effectiveness of training and development.

Easy delivery and access of the employee training program

Making the material easy to access and interact with is essential to an effective employee training program. You need to implement a learning management system (LMS) to deliver educational content. LMS has proven to be an effective technique to increase productivity through continued training and development. It also allows for the content released in a time-bound and cost-effective manner.

Learning paths for training for employees

A Gallop poll found that 87% of millennials saw career development as a vital part of their job. You need to ensure the training for employees provides prospects for professional development. Building on a defined learning path will help attract talent and improve employee satisfaction. You can use tools like LMS to create diverse learning paths or customized learning programs.

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5 must-have training modules for employees

Companies invest in training programs. Some training programs are exclusive for new or trainee employees, some are leadership programs that apply to senior staff, and some skill-based training modules apply to new and old employees. The skill-based training and development may need to be changed to cater to the skills of your staff. Here are the 5 must-have training modules for your employees

Employee training course for new hires

When you hire a new candidate, they need to be familiar with your company culture and processes. They cannot afford to miss out on your onboarding training. The employee training course needs to deliver consistent and engaging content. At the same time, you need to ensure the training and development should not overwhelm the new employee.

Training & development for compliance training

You provide compliance training is to ensure the employee follows the rules and regulations of your firm. Training and development as a part of compliance training are for new and old employees. New employees need to be introduced to the rules while existing employees need periodic reinforcements. Try to ensure the compliance training is not boring and keeps your staff engaged.

Product and service training in the workplace

Employees should be aware of the product and services you provide. This is especially true for your staff that works in the front-end, interacting with customers regularly. Training and development ensure you are not embarrassed when your employee is unable to address customer queries. You need to implement training in the workplace when you want to introduce a new product or service in the marketplace.

Software training as a part of staff development programme

Most organizations use software tools and applications for higher efficiency and productivity. Staff development programme ensures your staff learns how to use the software in a safe environment. It is also easier to roll out employee development programs to help staff get hands-on experience for their role.

Training and development courses for soft skills

Soft skills are essential in today’s business environment. Companies are focusing on training and development courses on leadership, communication, and time management. You need to ensure the human resource employee training program is consistent and aligned with your business goals. You should present the content in an engaging and easy to comprehend.

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3 recent trends and approaches in staff training practices

Organizations around the world want to create an efficient workforce. Employees are competitive, goal-oriented, and self-driven. As a business owner, make an effort to channel this energy towards productivity. Use the latest trends in staff training practices. Here are the three recent trends and approaches used in corporate training and development

Employee development programme with Artificial Intelligence

Artificial intelligence is providing solutions for every industry. Using Artificial intelligence in your employee development programme would be more automation and personalization. AI-based learning programs can improve the learning experience of your staff. AI-based tools can provide tailor-made training programs and resources for individual employees.

Development training program while providing personalized training

A development training program should provide customized learning solutions. It aims to improve productivity. The development training program not only designs training modules but achieves milestones that your staff should achieve.

Give your employees the flexibility to map out strategies to achieve these goals. You base these personalized training programs on the employee’s skills, knowledge, and learning requirements. It focuses on overcoming the employee’s weakness.

Employee training programs with gamification

Gamification is using gaming techniques in employee training programs. Gaming usually involves competitive behavior. Companies create a competitive environment to encourage competition. Training and development programs can be gamified by introducing leaderboards, providing certificates for recognition, and introducing reward-based points when they complete a module. Training and development modules based on gamification result in increased engagement.

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3 grueling challenges faced in employee development programs

Whether you own a start-up or a well-established firm you need a well-run employee development program. The training program for the staff needs to address the training challenges your firm faces.

Even after careful planning and resource allocation companies, face challenges and hiccups during the implementation of the employee development program. The three top challenges faced are,

Engaging learners during training and development activities for employees

Training and development activities for employees can lack engagement on a cognitive, emotional, and behavioral level. Employees may feel the course is irrelevant and unnecessary, and training and development programs can be generic.

If you are unable to engage on the three levels, employees listen passively and have lower retention. They are unlikely to be interested in future employee training sessions.

Training program for staff that is consistent

When your company, is geographically or globally dispersed, it is difficult to design a training program for staff that is consistent. Consider the age, cultural, language barriers, and experience of your workforce. It may result in increased costs, translation issues, language barriers, and virtual training needs. Video conferences, webinars, and online forums have helped navigate the problem.

Incorporating feedback of the trained employees

Sometimes your expectation for training and development does not meet the expectation. There are times the trained employee feels unsupported. Unfortunately, problems in the training module cannot be solved, until after the program is over.

You can make adjustments and corrections only after training is over. You need to ask for employee feedback during the training program, especially the onboarding program. You can incorporate employee feedback in future training sessions.

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