Brainstorming for teams: keep it simple!
Brainstorming should be simple: in theory, everyone gets their information down on the big white pad and that’s it, the idea sharing can begin! In reality, though, we know that that doesn’t always happen. Here is a good process to follow if you have a small-to-medium sized team and need to get thinking quickly:
1) Let the headstrong individuals go first. They’ll have loads of ideas and letting them go first means that afterwards the more considered individuals can have their turn and do so without feeling rushed. It’s also a good idea to make sure that nobody else speaks while ideas are written on the board.
2) Do it one by one and make sure any communication is between the person who has just put their ideas up and everyone else. This means less back and forth chatter between people who are seated.
This’ll make things loads easer, and everyone will be able to see what’s going on…
3) Put everyone in groups and give each group a different coloured marker pen. This makes it really simple to see who came up with what idea – whether it’s a new set of spreadsheets for cleansing data or a new packaging style for dog food – and eliminates any arguments. When you’re putting ideas down it should be only about the ideas and not about the personal politics between the individual team members!
4) Don’t be afraid to scrap the first brainstorming sheet and transfer the best ideas onto a new sheet of big white paper. This’ll make things loads easer, and everyone will be able to see what’s going on without too many lines going all over the place!
5) No shouting allowed! Shouting is an idea enemy and it means that effective communication is rendered pointless. Stay to the one and simple rule and you should be fine: mouth shut while ideas are going up!
Interested in business and ideas? Definitely be sure to watch the video!
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