Brainstorming is not difficult. Basically, you are only looking for ideas. But the problem lies in the detail. A number of “secondary factors” determine whether or not brainstorming is a success. The following tips will help you to get more out of your “brain storm”.
Actually, brainstorming is very simple, almost banal. No mysterious techniques, no complicated accessories. There are only four “commandments” or rules to keep in mind:
- Quantity before quality
- No critic. No rating.
- “Clawing”, picking up and developing the ideas of others is allowed.
- Associate, spin around and fantasize is absolutely welcome.
But there are a number of “secondary factors” that determine whether or not a brainstorming is successful. So, are you ready? Then here are some tips for brainstorming.
1. Get a mixed crew aboard
People aremost comfortable with each other when they are very similar. But constructivearguments, personal growth and creative ideas are rarely created. The moredifferent the people with whom you brainstorm together, the better. When I was working as an essay writer in Quizlet Live , my colleagues and I organized brainstorming each time we went to dinner. It helped us greatly in writing articles. So just throw gender, age, origin wildly confused. There are many positions in the creativeprocess, from the trendy scout to the pedantic inventor.
2. All participants should consider themselves equal
You can feel it: When supervisors are involved in a brainstorming, there is another wind. Participants are more cautious, do not want to tease and try to please. This is bad for new ideas, because they will be tamed and tuned accordingly. The best is when all participants feel equal. Also make sure that no one is marginalized or feels overdriven.
3. You need a capable moderator
Some groups simply do not harmonize with each other. That happens. But often it is the group leader or moderator who makes the difference. The presenter of a brainstorming must master many things at the same time: he must stimulate the creativity of the participants and, if necessary, be able to impart and use creativity techniques. He has to lead the group well and efficiently. He needs a knack for communication and subliminal group dynamics. He should also have knowledge of human nature … You see, a versatile post.
4. Create a relaxed, stress-free atmosphere
Stress is a creativity killer anyway. If you ask people for a brainstorming session and everyone is rushed, or some are “socially stressed” and feel uncomfortable with the group, nothing will come of it. But also pressure, tension, worries and other things are not exactly helping to openly and curiously embrace new ideas. Take care of a relaxed atmosphere: quiet music in the breaks or in the background can help. Or beautiful pictures, symbols, objects that fit the theme, get you in the mood and activate the imagination. Encourage attendees to leave the business atmosphere at the door. Fort with the lacquered suit carrier. With humor and little games, promote the creative kid in everyone.
Extra tip: Let the participants also show emotions. Even and perhaps even in seemingly sober business emotions prevail. The “chemistry” decides whether you agree with a company or not. The relationship with customers is characterized by emotions. Many ideas and products are also rejected because of emotions. And so on.
5. Try to enforce certain communication standards
If people want to work together productively, a few rules of communication are also included. Actually, it should be self-evident that you let the other finish, listen in peace, verbally attacking anyone, pushing others in the corner or driving them over the mouth. Since we are all human, I will mention it here again. Because it is especially important during brainstorming to be able to express one’s opinion freely and without fear. Otherwise, many ideas will never see the light of day.
6. Search for the right question
As the saying goes, the question determines the viewing direction. If you are looking for A, you will find everything that has to do with a faster. And so on. That is why much of your initial question depends on brainstorming. Please file this question carefully. The more efficient you will be looking for ideas.Also make sure to formulate your initial question positively.
7. Influencing your results through adjustment and focus
At the top of the four bids for a good brainstorming, it sounded already: Separate the ideas from the criticism. That is to say, let us fantasize without restraint. Then take apart and rate. Not the other way around. Because ideas are much faster talked than won. Prevent this by first focusing on the ideas. It can also help to direct the focus, so to speak, into the macroscopic and even the microscopic.
That is, grab the stars once. Think big. Then you can still break down to the “realistic”. And another time – as with Kaizen – think piece by piece from your current starting position. What could improve or be improved here? And so on.
In life, as you know, everything is an attitude issue. If you think big, you will also find great ideas faster. And so on.
8. Increase the output of new ideas through external requirements
You can find the top idea that brings you on tenth place – or one hundredth. You cannot know that. That is why brainstorming is about finding as many ideas as you can. You can increase such an “idea output” by external requirements. For example, make it mandatory for everyone to contribute at least x ideas. Or set a time limit of y in which to fight for incidents. Many good ideas will only come to light after a certain amount of time, if you have “fished up” common ideas on the surface of your mind.
9. Do not forget the solo artists
Many people need the group and the spiritual flying sparks with others to be creative. But there are also many “solo artists” who prefer to brood about their ideas in a quiet room. And some of us belong to both at the same time. (By the way, this change between proximity and distance is typical for creatives.) In addition, many shy people often find it difficult to speak aloud in a group and fight for their opinions. Here, too, helps a so-called solo brainstorming. There are methods like brain writing for that. Or you let people search for ideas for a certain amount of time and collect them in a collective notebook, for example.
10. Let it sleep
That is no joke: we just find ideas in our sleep. In any case, when we first deal with the subject or the problem, and then hit our ears. Our brain will keep on spinning and brainstorming in sleep. You just have to be careful not to forget the new ideas the next morning. Are we through now? Well, you could go on like this for a while. For example, you should still capture your ideas somewhere and visualize them for the group. And a suitcase of creativity techniques makes everyone search for solutions more efficiently. However, I think that is enough for now. Give you a rich creative flying sparks.