Strategic Planning Involving a Unique
Technique called 'Reverse Brainstorming'

This technique is most suited to businesses (usually owner managed) that are so focused on the day to day, week to week and month to month, that little time is spent on defining future objectives/strategy or how the business could function better on a day to day basis and much of the information needed to achieve/exploit the firm's objectives/problems and opportunities remains locked up in the conscious/unconscious thoughts of the firm's most valuable asset. It's staff.

It relies on two very simple principles. First, given the opportunity and a totally uninhibited atmosphere/environment most staff members have observations to make and ideas to input. Second, most human beings are infinitely more productive when given the opportunity to be totally negative.

Once a whole stream of consciousness (transcribed verbatim) has been unleashed and staff allowed to input 'how not' rather than 'how' to achieve defined objectives and goals the future of many businesses can be transformed. The outcome can often be a realisation that doing well (or even very well) that which we should not be doing at all is plain daft e.g. competing in an overcrowded, declining market with no defined product benefit when the same team could be satisfying a growing niche market with a discernibly superior product or service. Even in the worse case scenario, the 'reverse brainstorming' process can result in a more inclusive working atmosphere, increased productivity and profit, more fun in the workplace and greater staff retention.