The power of the silent observer in creative brainstorming meetings

I hate brainstorming meetings. It is one thing that I will definitely not miss, after having worked in the creative agency world for 20 years. I’ve worked as a VFX Animator, a Digital Art-Director, and even worked on the client side as ‘a suit’ being a Digital Creative Strategist for a multinational toy company.

At every one of those roles, I was thrown into a boardroom with other people armed with white-boards, sharpies, and post-it notes, to discuss, come up with, or map out ideas to solve creative problems or come up with a creative solution.

These brainstorming meetings were often filled with people vying for attention and trying to prove their worth. But as someone who's attended their fair share of these meetings over the years, I've come to realize that the real power in these situations often lies with the silent observers.

You know the type: they're the ones who sit quietly in the corner, taking notes and staying out of the fray. They're the fly on the wall, the ones you don't hear from until they speak up with a valuable insight or suggestion.

I was one of those people (and I was not alone). We weren't the ones making bold statements or trying to take control of the meeting. Maybe that’s why I was let go from the multinational toy company, after having worked there for only 6 months.

The loud, brash individuals in the room may think they're the smartest people in the room, but the truth is that they're often too busy trying to prove themselves to truly listen and learn. They're so focused on talking that they don't take the time to truly hear what's being said.

On the other hand, us silent observers are the ones truly listening. We’re taking in everything that's being said and processing it, rather than just waiting for our turn to speak. And when we do finally speak up, you can bet it's often with a valuable insight or suggestion that others in the room have missed.

Now that I run my own branding & design agency (Rayvn Design ), I would never impose having a brainstorming meeting on my team. Instead I encourage my designers to take complete ownership of a project. My job as a Creative Director is not to lead; but to inspire my design team to do better. I need to put myself in the shoes of my clients, so I can determine the creative vision of a brand, and help my team manifest that vision through print, digital, and social media. And if I have to do it quietly, so be it.

Of course, there are times when it's necessary to speak up. But even then, the key is to be efficient and make your point as succinctly as possible. And then, once you've said what needs to be said, know when to shut up and let others speak.

The art of knowing when to speak and when to stay silent is a powerful one. It allows you to truly listen and learn, rather than just trying to prove yourself. And as I've seen firsthand, it can lead to a deeper understanding of the topic at hand and ultimately lead to more effective problem-solving.

So the next time you're in a meeting, take a look around and pay attention to the quiet people. They may not be the ones making the most noise, but they're the ones truly listening and learning. And that's where real power lies.

Hi, I'm Denny Kurien. I'm the Creative Director & Co-Founder of Rayvn Design . We are a minority-owned design & brand identity agency based in Toronto, that specializes in rebranding and elevating the image of professional service firms, to attract new clients and stand out in a competitive market.