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If there is any truth in stereotypes, CIOs are generally left brainers, meaning they’re analytical, objective, goal-oriented and linear thinkers. Those qualities would seem ideal in anyone running an IT operation.

Now, however, with the recession hopefully receding, there’s much ado about the need for CIOs to become more right-brained, that is, creative. We’re not talking here about going out and painting a picture, writing a novel or learning to dance the Tango. No, being creative in this instance means coming up with new ideas and approaches, thinking horizontally rather than vertically, seeing the big picture rather than the parts.

Asking CIOs to become more right brained is not unlike requiring a left-handed pitcher to throw strikes from the other side of the mound. It doesn’t come naturally, but there are some ways to break away from right-brained restraints. The New York Times just ran an article, for instance, about how the military has become overly reliant on PowerPoint presentations, a dependency that can stifle critical thinking, discussion and ultimately creativity.(As an aside, PowerPoint presentations are often so tedious they can numb both sides of the brain in a matter of minutes.)

So, here’s a suggestion. Hold a couple of PowerPoint-free meetings with your staff in which an open exchange is encouraged. You might find ideas and suggestions coming out of these gatherings that will surprise you and make you rethink how you’re dealing with a particular issue.

Another approach that some CIOs have used with varying degrees of success is to assign subordinates to various business units on an ongoing or temporary basis. If you’re looking to understand why marketing is so enthralled with social media – and find some new and creative ways in which it can be used -- assign one of your people to the frontlines of corporate Facebook and Twitter activity -- i.e. marketing and sales.

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There’s also the old brainstorm approach, having people throw out ideas spontaneously. The problem here is that staffers often fear suggesting something that sounds foolish so they hold back. They only way brainstorming sessions can work is if participants are confident they can say just about anything that comes to mind without being criticized or made to sit in the corner wearing a dunce cap.

Some CIOs go so far as to create a dedicated group to come up with innovative, often seemingly over-the-top suggestions. Harry Lukens, senior vice president of information at the Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network Allentown, Pa., for instance, established a “Wild Idea Team,” a multidisciplinary group that focuses on solving tough problems throughout the hospital.

There are also a number of books such as Creativity in Virtual Teams by Jill E. Nemiro that offer tools and suggestions intended to foster creativity.  Whatever the approach, the goal is to think outside the cliché envelope, which in the case of PowerPoint is often of our own making.

Comments (2)

	1. 04-27-2010 17:40
	PowerPoint presentations are often used as a crutch by people who are uncomfortable with public speaking. Which is fine, but CIOs and IT managers should also strive to take time-outs from the PowerPoint presentation and go freestyle. As you say, it could generate a much more dynamic discussion, but doesn't entirely take away their saftey net. Registered

Mel Duvall

	2. 04-28-2010 10:35
	PowerPoint can lead a discussion. Most people use a PowerPoint as a linear discussion model.    When we are presenting a plan or an overview of discussion, we lay out our PowerPoint in a star pattern. We have one main page, in which you can click on a specific topic. This drills down into that line of discussion, but there is a hyperlink that brings s back up a level or back to the main page.    That way, we can take the PowerPoint in the direction of the discussion, and not the discussion in the direction of the PowerPoint.    Also, most of our PowerPoints are filled with images or graphs and NOT WORDS.    We use it as a visual media to help our discussion, and not to "READ WHAT IS ON THE SCREEN!"    Most people just read what is on the screen. That truly is "Death by PowerPoint!" I agree that most Execs need to break away from depending so much on PowerPoint, but use it to your advantage and not as your crutch. Registered

Scott Collier

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