4 Minutes and a Buzzer

4 minutes and a Buzzer…..

 

Last week at Lotame, we embarked on an adventurous exercise.  

 

The event was billed as a “sharing of idea in 4 minutes.”   Lotame is now north of 40 employees, and growing.  We have engineers, developers, software specialists, business analysts, and some very skilled operations folks who are helping us, both – create value and scale our business.   We continue to grow in people (employees) as well as – industry traction (growth of revenue and results) amongst our clients -- both publisher and advertiser……

 

I’m excited, humbled, and honored about our accomplishments, and journey that our team has traveled on to get us to this point……and, there is much still to do.   We are at the base of this mountain, called Social Media – and starting to scale this challenge uphill….we’ve got our proverbial hiking boots on.

 

But, one often overlooked factor in a hyper growth organization, is the WILLINGNESS AND ABILITY of a company to listen to its people…..it’s most important ingredient.

 

Listen to its DNA.  The way each of us must listen to our human bodies – to see signs of progress, growth, and health (not..) 

 

A company actually listening to its employees?

 

Listen is what we did – see copy of email sent to team below.

 

From:

Andy Monfried

Sent: Friday, May 23, 2008 10:32 AM
To: Team
Subject: 4 minutes of Ideas.....

 

Gang:

 

Next week….

 

I had an idea, and I’d like to do it next Thursday 5-29-08 at 11:00-1:00pm.

 

Titled the “Elk Ridge Open Brainstorm” – I’d like each employee to attend a 90 minute open meeting…..

 

Why, and what is the meeting about?

 

The meeting is about “sharing ideas” and brainstorming our company – and it’s evolution in a fast paced industry.

 

Ideally – I’d like each person to come with ONE IDEA about how they think their concept can add more value to what we are doing…..

 

It can be:

 

1)       a new idea

2)       a new business model

3)       a new technology (or a new spin on some of our technology)

4)       a new way of selling what we do

5)       a new way of marketing what we do

6)       a new way of “running” the company

7)       a new way of looking at our data

 

What I’m literally asking for is your input.  Please give it some thought…..I’d like each of you to come a bit prepared, as in a mission statement or a sentence about what you want to discuss (it does not have to be one of the choices above) it can be anything you think of……but here is what I’m asking

 

a)       you have an idea prepared so please give it some thought

b)       you can present your idea and discuss it.

c)       We can debate it

d)       We have time to debate it. (after you present your new idea)

 

By my count, we have roughly xx people who will attend this on Thursday. 

Starting at 11:00 am each person gets to read, or discuss their idea.

We as a group spend 4 minutes per person discussing the brainstorm.

After 4 minutes we move on to the next person.  So, the schedule looks like this:

 

11:00-11:04 – Robert XXXX

11:05-11:09 – Dave XXXXX

11:10-11:14 – Andy XXXXX

11:15-11:19 –Kevin XXXXX

 

(Jessica, will continue to fill out the rest – but you get the idea)

 

We will have a timer that will buzz after 4 minutes to move on to the next person…..(the 4 minutes includes group debate)

 

Jessica will be taking notes, (and anyone else that would like to help) – and, we will reward the top 3 ideas…(as determined by moi’)

 

Lunch will be brought in at the conclusion of our group 4 minute segments…..(please let Jessica know if you will be out next Thursday)

 

I’m very excited for this – and I’m looking forward to each of your input, guidance and creative ideas to CREATE MORE value…..utilizing your most important element, your insight…..

 

Big love, and enjoy the weekend.

 

Andy

 

************************************************************************

 

Key takeaways:

 

1)      Many people “pre-loaded” their presentations into a conference room computer, or plugged their laptops into a projector

2)      The presentations and question time stopped immediately when the timer buzzed, and we moved on to the next person – there was approximately 30 seconds tops between presentations

3)      Typically the presentations were 3-5 slides, which allowed for 1-2 minutes of questions, and 1-2 minutes of questions or bouncing of ideas around the room.

4)      Great ideas were shared – and it began a ton of brainstorming inside of 4 minutes, forcing many to be VERY CONCISE, and quick.

5)      Great ideas are being explored and may go into production shortly

6)      Insight and Ideas were discussed and brought forth THAT I’VE NEVER THOUGHT OF , which was so awesome……

7)      We are making a “book” of these ideas, like a time capsule

8)      We had a timer/clock on the table preset to 4 minutes for each employee…..

 

 

This exercise and event was both team building, as well as a “listening exercise” – FOR EVERYONE.  It was not a company meeting, or a speech – but rather a genuine environment where  -- ANY CRAZY OR HALF BAKED IDEA COULD BE EXPLORED, AND SHARED.

 

I can tell you from the results, that EVERY single concept presented had validity, and had so called “legs…”   All were well thought out, and all were well received.

 

4 minutes of listening……

Comments

[Jaime Macias]

I think that is great idea and the structure reinforces the clarity and brevity needed to make it effective. Keep up the greate work over there and I can't wait to see the effects on the business 4 minutes at a time.

JM

[Brian T]

What a great idea and a great way to not only identify great ideas and business evolution potential but also to relieve pressure points and allow people's voices to be heard, which in itself--even if the idea is dead in the water--is valuable. Makes me think of an article I just read.

http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/08_24/b4088088652060.htm?chan=search