Hi all: Jean Carroccio here with my first JEK Speak blog entry. As many of you know, I have a passion for serious creativity tools and methods. This entry may be useful for those of you who hold or attend meetings that include idea generation sessions. Brainstorming is a very basic technique, and it can yield useful ideas when facilitated effectively. These simple, but powerful tips will increase the quality and quantity of ideas you and your meeting attendees can generate. In future entries I will share more techniques related to the generation and treatment of ideas.

Leaders seek ways to unleash new perspectives and fresh thinking about the challenges and opportunities they and their followers confront on a daily basis. Brainstorming is one method for effectively lassoing the brain power in your group for breakthrough problem solving and idea generation.

Six Steps to Effective Brainstorming Sessions!

Leaders frequently facilitate meetings, trainings and retreats. These types of events are often used to generate ideas, solve problems and confront challenges.  If you want to sharpen your ability to facilitate brainstorming sessions follow these six basic processes:

1.      Alternative Problem Definition and Defining Focus

Spend some time carefully describing the challenge or problem. You can open up a group’s idea generation ability simply by re-stating the problem in different ways.

Example:    

·       The parking lot is too small.

·       Too many people complain about the parking lot.

·       Too many people want to park in the lot.                  

·       Too many people drive to work.

Each statement invites a different set of possible solutions. There are many ways to solve problems, but you will limit your idea generation capacity if you only look at the problem in one way, from one perspective. Even stating problems takes creative thinking!

2.      Suspend Judgment

Quantity and quality are related when generating ideas. That’s one reason why suspending judgment is so important in brainstorming. Critiquing or debating ideas saps the energy of the group and creates a non-creative ambiance. Encourage wild ideas, new ideas, and ideas that suggest fresh approaches. You will rigorously assess them later.

3.      Number Ideas

This helps in two ways. First, it energizes participants as they see the idea list grow. It visually suggests there is very likely a way to solve the problem. Second, it’s an easy way to discuss and manage the ideas as you jump back and forth without losing track of where you are or what you are focusing on.

4.      Build and Jump

High energy brainstorming sessions have a predictable flow.  Anticipate a slowly building momentum, then a fast paced period and finally a plateau.  If you need to re-energize the idea generators, suggest a switch in focus:  Let’s switch gears and consider totally positive solutions!

5.      Make it Visible

Be sure someone is capturing the ideas and that they are visible to the group. This doesn’t require fancy technology. Most design firms use: sharpie markers, giant Post-Its, and butcher paper on tables and walls.  Inviting the idea generators to be physically involved and moving around the room writing down and sketching the ideas can also increase motivation and brain power.

6.      Play and Get Physical

Good brainstorming sessions can be extremely physical. They include sketching, mind mapping, diagrams, stick figures etc. Bring in ideas and solutions from other fields, have materials on hand to build models of a concept.

Final Note:  The quantity and quality of ideas generated are related; the more ideas you generate the more likely you are to generate unusual, interesting and cutting edge ideas. Higher quality ideas generally appear at the end of the list. If you want to insure that your group thinks “outside the box,” ask them to generate 5-10 additional ideas after they are sure the initial brainstorm list is complete. Don’t hesitate to contact me if you have questions related to this blog entry! Jeanthink@earthlink.net.