I Find it So Hard to Brainstorm With a Team

Reader’s Question

I’m personally having issues with brainstorming with a team. Do I just have a weaker mind-set or am I just too shy and like to work on things on my own? How can I improve myself and climb up the ladder if I can’t communicate my thoughts effectively as part of a team? If I talk in public, especially if I’m the center of attention, I often feel shivering to the nerve, but I’m not scared.

Our Consulting Clinical Psychologist’s Reply

The most likely cause of your situation is low self-confidence and lack of experience in groups or with public speaking. As careers grow, people often encounter a requirement for both brainstorming and public speaking. A shy and introverted accountant finds himself/herself promoted to Department Head and must now make presentations at administrative meetings or with company executives. Group presentations, offering your opinion, and brainstorming are all part of improving your career skills.

If it’s clear that group meetings and brainstorming are going to be part of your career from this point, you should obtain the skills you need. For example, you can:

• Take a college class in public speaking or group activities.
• Participate in other nonwork group setting such as community groups, church, etc.
• When a brainstorming session is announced, prepare your ideas ahead of time and mentally rehearse how you’ll present it to the team.
• Practice group activities/games with family and friends, especially games that involve being the center of attention (charades, acting games, etc.).
• Notice that when others contribute to a brainstorming session, very few people say something that will be worth writing a book about. The idea in a brainstorming session is “ideas” — not profound and highly articulated statements. Shy folks are often very hard on themselves until they realize that most of casual conversation and brainstorming is “casual” and no more articulate than their offerings.
• Memorize a pet phrase or “press release” to use if you stick your foot in your mouth. Socially skilled people do this all the time, using comments like “I guess I should have kept that idea for Friday night at the pub!” or “I don’t know where that idea came from!”

In your career, if playing golf is required at the top of the ladder, start your golf lessons now.