BRAINSTORMING
6 steps to better brainstorming
1. Variety
Getting a variety of personality types, backgrounds and expertise allows for fresh eyes to evaluate problems. Using the same old people yields the same old results. Not everyone in brainstorming has to be an expert.
2. Environment
Brainstorming meetings should be held in an area free from disruption. People should be free to speak their minds without fear of ridicule or critisism.Creativity becomes stagnant when people are scared of saying something "stupid". It is often better to hold this type of meeting away from the work environment to eliminate these obstacles.The brainstorming environment should be stimulating. This might include music or visuals that relate to the problem at hand.
3. Who's in Charge?
It is very important to have someone facilitate the meeting. Putting someone in charge will prevent critical and judgmental thinking and steer the discussion towards creative and productive thinking. The person in this position will have good people skills and be capable of motivating the thought process. Often an professional facilitator is brought in to help yield a more productive meeting.
4. Have Fun!
An environment that is playful and fun is more conducive to creative thinking. People get excited when the good ideas start flowing...let'em go!
5. Prevent Judgmental Thinking.
Create two stages to your meeting. Possible thinking and practical thinking. In the first stage there is no evaluation, just the raw generation of ideas including all the obvious and silly. The next stage is where those ideas are assessed to find the most valuable solutions.
6. Record your ideas.
Visually record the ideas on the wall with pictures and list. Use post-it notes and marker renderings, what ever it takes to add more stimulation to the recorded thought. Make sure you record the ideas that have merit for future meetings. An idea that is just a spark today, may create a fire in someone tomorrow.
