Brainsteering: A Better Approach to Breakthrough Ideas

by Kevin P. Coyne, Shawn T. Coyne

“[The Coynes’] logical thinking exercises will help readers to maximize their ideation skills, both by systematically exploring every possible nook and cranny of an issue to find new ideas, and by systematically evaluating and honing the results.” — Publishers Weekly

From business strategists (and brothers) Shawn and Kevin Coyne comes a breakthrough approach to developing better ideas.  Brainsteering is a comprehensive, research-based, tried-and-tested approach to the principal challenge in business and life: how to consistently and effectively create powerful new ideas. Brainsteering offers a way out of fruitless brainstorming sessions. In the tradition of the Heath Brothers’ Made to Stick and Gordon Mackenzie’s Orbiting Giant Hairball , the Coynes deliver the surest path to success for anyone looking to unlock the secrets of innovation.

Genres: Business, Nonfiction, Design, Entrepreneurship

256 pages, Hardcover

First published February 1, 2011

Reviews

[Fred Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

"This is a good book, in conjunction with something like the Business Model generation or other tools/methods you might use where you are generating lots of ideas. Some good advice on how to structure the brainstorming/ideation around questions, in order to to be more effective. It's straightforward but a quick read and some worthwhile ideas."

[Kenneth Okello · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great, useful book on idea creation!

The books provides clear methods, steps to follow to produce quality ideas.Also, what I like about the book is that it is specific. I highly recommend it!

[Adrian Quintanilla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book to structure a creativity

[May Ling · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was looking for a bit of insight into describing how the brain creates ideas, as I couldn't figure out how to help others unlock their creativity. While some will likely balk at the idea of putting a framework around creativity, others, I believe will appreciate what the author attempts to do.

Many good insights which to me include:
1) How to use groups effectively vs. what is common and doesn't work.
2) The use of analysis and anomalies in creative thinking
3) Cultural/human obstacles that are artificial beliefs to be removed
a) The belief that a well-functioning process doesn't bear questioning
b) Over simplification of the problem/challenge via averages and norms
4) How to be intellectually honest about the critique of your great/not-so-great idea
a) Why hasn't someone else thought of it? What's the constraint?
5) Identification of critical assumptions to your idea, i.e. how to move your idea forward
6) Less obvious "showstoppers" that are small, but decrease the need for, value of your great idea.

All fantastic stuff.

[Kathleen Rainwater · Rating 4 out of 5]

By adding just the right amount of structure , and asking just the right questions in the brainstorming process, brainsteering helps you to get to the next level of idea generation and problem solving .

[Gary]

A pretty good book that adresses being creative through asking the right questions and tells about formulationg RIGHT questions. Also gives useful advice on use of statistics for creativity and gives stories of succesful entreprenuers in the book.

[Kim Tỏi · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book is the collection of questions which guide you to generate questions and choose the best one to bring you to success.