A productive brainstorm with your team can truly feel like a victory: everyone leaves the session feeling energized and enthusiastic. The following tips and techniques will help you and your team pull off a successful brainstorm.
1. Formulate a clear problem statement
What is actually the problem? What are we going to brainstorm about? Make sure the issue is clear before the brainstorming session and share it with the team. Formulate the problem clearly and concretely do not use technical jargon.
2. Don't follow the herd
Something that is very common is "groupthink. When you believe you have a good idea, but the majority of the group comes up with a different one, people often tend to go along with the herd. Don't do this! Groupthink reduces productivity, leading to a less effective brainstorming session. Therefore, be as creative as possible and instead be proud that you have a different idea than the rest.
3. Quantity over quality
This is precisely the idea of a brainstorm: throw as many ideas into the group as possible. This gives you so much input that there is a greater chance that the idea will be among them. Such a "brain dump" works best under time pressure. Set a timer of up to 10 minutes and encourage participants to come up with as many ideas as possible within this time.
4. Put together the right team
You would think: the more people, the more ideas. This is true, of course, but it is not always effective. Involve people in your group from different fields, perspectives and places in the company. Make sure your team is no larger than 7 people, according to a study by Column Five. This way you create different perspectives on the issue.
5. Go completely offline for a while
It sounds logical, yet almost no one does it: go completely offline. An effective and creative brainstorm does not work if you are distracted by messages on your phone or laptop. Therefore, agree with all participants to turn their phones off or on silent, so that everyone is equally involved in the brainstorm.
6. Choose an inspiring space
The space in which the brainstorm takes place is very important. A space where there has been a conflict - like your own office, for example - subconsciously creates a negative association, which can hinder the brainstorm. To avoid this, rent a brainstorming room, for example. To promote the internal creative process, a quiet room is a good option. A quiet room allows the penny to drop sooner for the team after the issue has been introduced.
7. Choose the right brainstorming technique
To get the creative process started, you can use several brainstorming techniques. Three of these techniques are: "Word Storm," Say "Yes, and...," and "Create a Mind Map. A wordstorm is a creative way for the team to come up with new ideas. A team member writes down a word that fits the brainstorming topic and passes it along to all participants. They write down the first thing that comes to mind.
Say "Yes, and..." is a technique used by improv comedians to create a funny story. One team member starts with a sentence, another team member continues the sentence by saying 'Yes, and...'. In this way, the team builds on each other's ideas and new insights emerge. The third technique everyone knows, but is no less effective because of it: make a mind map. Sometimes the first idea thrown into the group is not the best idea, but it does inspire the participants. This mindset is good to activate using a mind map. The team starts with an idea, and from here draws lines to sub-ideas. A mind map is a fine support for team members who think visually.
8. Close the brainstorm clearly
Bundle similar ideas before the session is over and collectively choose the best bundles. The team is ready after this step, but the organizers are not yet. Within a week, send the documented brainstorm to the team. Documenting the brainstorm can be done in writing or through photographs. A combination of these best represents the brainstorming session. In the end, the brainstorm organizer chooses by himself or with a small team which ideas best solve the problem statement.
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