On the first Friday of each month, 360 PSG employees grab their pens and notebooks, build mountains of pizza and wings atop paper plates, and congregate in the conference room for the open creativity meeting.

No, it’s not an eating contest, though some months do have some I-bet-I-can-eat-more-pizza-than-you side bets…  Instead, open creativity allows for brainstorming where individuals can express ideas to the group and employees from every department can collaborate to develop new strategies to grow 360 PSG and better serve clients.

The goal of 360’s open creativity meetings is to generate new ideas, recognize company growth, and acknowledge both group and individual achievements within each department.  Progress from the previous month is reported and two new “heroes” are crowned, one in sales and one in design/programming/project management.  Heroes exemplify an above-and-beyond mentality adding hero-worthy tasks to their already heavy workload.  The heroes’ names are then added to the plaques that hang in the new 360 PSG lobby.

Probably the best part about open creativity Fridays is that they’re fun.  We get to bounce ideas off of one another while we gorge on bacon-covered pizza and delicious chicken wings.  Of course, along with chicken bones, good-natured ribbings are hurled across the room creating a sense of camaraderie throughout the company.

It’s a really great way to keep everyone working toward a common goal.  Over the course of a month, each department may have a different hand in a single project.  Open creativity meetings give us an opportunity to meet as a whole company, where the departments involved can share their thoughts on the entire project while allowing others to offer their ideas as well.

What is your favorite part about open creativity meetings?

Joel:

I really enjoy the team recognition of individual achievements. Each department manager nominates and describes the successes and extra efforts of their team. It gives me a chance to really see the individual day-to-day wins when I don’t get to experience them in the fast paced momentum of the month.

Lee:

We get to sit down as one big 360 family and recognize each others’ hard work and discuss future company ideas like new services and expansion.

Kelli:

I enjoy the points system and hero recognition, mainly because I think it’s a positive way to share individual accomplishments with the rest of the company.

Dan:

Getting together with everyone in a more casual environment.  Otherwise, I hardly see anyone throughout normal business days.

Matt:

The open creativity meetings provide a time for us to hear what the other departments in the company are doing.  We’re very focused on what our department does and most of the time don’t get to hear what other new developments have been happening thanks to the rest of the staff.

Ben:

Having everyone from the company in the same room, on the same page, discussing the vision and future of a company we all pour ourselves into.  It’s team-building and a reminder that we’re all in this together.

Angie:

Catching up on what everyone is doing. We’re all so busy that we lose track of events and others’ accomplishments.

 

How do the open creativity meetings help 360 develop as a company?

Joel:

It creates a forum for the management team, like myself, to update the whole team on major initiatives, changes, and advancements of the whole company. We are a very transparent team and as an owner I like that everyone gets informed of what is going on and that we don’t operate with a ton of closed doors or private information.

Lee:

During the open creativity meetings, we are all encouraged to bring up our views and concerns and discuss them as a company.  I feel this really enforces the team or family atmosphere throughout the office.

Kelli:

I think that the various forms of recognition provide an incentive to go above and beyond (when your queue allows). It’s also one of the few times that every employee is in the same place at the same time, so it gives everyone an opportunity to catch up about what is new in each department and ensure that everyone is on the same page.

Dan:

Generally, team members don’t see what is going on in different departments.  These meetings keep everyone involved in the big picture and shows how everyone contributes to the success of 360 PSG.

Matt:

The meetings often get new ideas going, an opportunity to build on what someone is already doing, to offer new ideas or address issues.  We can sit back and get a broad view of our direction in our perspective.  We also have an opportunity to recognize workers for any accomplishments, which I think tends to boost morale.

Ben:

The company was built on the premise that everyone involved should be contributing on a level greater than just punching a clock and checking off daily tasks.  The Open Creativity meeting helps facilitate this and directly contributes to the morale and purpose in the company.

Angie:

These meetings give you a chance to discuss ways to streamline our workload and bounce ideas off each other.

 

What’s your favorite activity or brainstorming exercise?

Joel:

Personally I like crafting an activity, contest, or exercise that ties everything we do together… sometimes related to our Core Values, Mission Statement or other company-wide detail.

Lee:

The text message pop quiz during the monthly meeting was a really fun idea but I like having the morning huddles as the group is smaller and more closely knit to the operations side of the business.

Kelli:

I don’t think I have a preferred exercise, but I appreciate the perspectives that the rest of the team provide and usually find some insight in or utilize them.

Dan:

Recognizing the great work of team members.

Matt:

I love to hear what ideas get brought up and what they turn into.

Ben:

Bouncing ideas between different groups (like design and programming) always reveals new insight because of the drastically different viewpoints and minds in each group.

Angie:

I just enjoy the interaction of ideas and future plans.

 

Be honest, what’s your personal record for slices of pizza eaten in a single open creativity meeting? *(I am in no way promoting a pizza eating contest at our next meeting)

Joel:

I have had five squares and about 8 wings on a starving day… usually try to stick to 3 squares and 4 wings… all depends on how much is left, don’t want to leave it sitting there.   Been eating less this year while dieting a bit.

 

Lee:

I’ve been able to polish off 4 slices at a meeting but now as we continue to grow company wide, it’s only fair to make sure everyone get some before I get seconds and thirds!

Kelli:

Four, I think? I was having a rough day. Oof.

Dan:

Four.

Matt:

I think I had 6 one time :-/

Ben:

4

Angie:

2  (Weak sauce!)