Brainstorming is a creative process that can generate innovative solutions, but it can also be challenging to ensure that everyone's ideas are heard and valued. How can you facilitate a brainstorming session that encourages participation, diversity, and collaboration? Here are some tips to help you make the most of your team's collective brainpower.
Before you start brainstorming, make sure that everyone understands the purpose, scope, and criteria of the problem you are trying to solve. Define the objectives, expectations, and time limit of the session, and establish some ground rules for how to share and evaluate ideas. For example, you can ask everyone to avoid criticism, judgment, or interruptions, and to build on each other's suggestions.
The best way to make sure you understand all the points in a brainstorming session is to use the following supplies: 1. Whiteboard 2. Pen and paper 3. Visio software and other tools will allow you to review each item in the future and analyze Know that knowledge will be preserved by writing
Most often , in a brainstorming session , everyone talks BUT no one listens ..Hence the best approach to ensure everyone's ideas are heard in a brainstorming session is to set the protocols : 1.No one interrupts when another person is speaking . 2. Everyone is allotted a fixed time to express their initial thoughts ; if you exceed the time , you are told to stop .. 3.There would be a rapporteur who would document the discussions . 4.NO Shouting , abusive body language , standing allowed ! 5.No one is allowed to pass comments , judgements , remarks about any view that has been expressed during the session .. 6.The objective is to explore more ideas NOT decide which idea is better Not to forget , The facilitators decision is final !
For any brainstorming session to be successful, it is essential to set clear goals and objectives. When everyone in the group knows what they are trying to achieve, it becomes easier to focus on generating new ideas that can achieve these objectives.?setting clear goals?also ensures that the team doesn't waste time veering off on tangents that don't lead to anything constructive. One way to set?clear goals?for?a brainstorming session ?is to define the problem that the team is trying to solve. Start by asking questions like, "What is the problem we are trying to solve?" and "What outcome are we hoping to achieve?" Once the problem has been defined, it becomes easier to focus on generating ideas that can solve the problem.
Para sabermos se reuni?o foi produtiva, precisamos saber se ela atingiu o objetivo proposto. Caso ela tenha iniciado sem um objetivo claro, ela nem deveria ter sido realizada. Antes de agendar uma reuni?o e convocar outras pessoas, é preciso ter claro qual seu objetivo com este compromisso.?
I think the brain storming teams must be sensitised about active listening. It helps the speaker to put out the ideas which can be weirdest ones, but will be listened to and deliberated on, it improves he confidence of the speaker as well as the team.
Depending on the size, composition, and preferences of your group, you can use different methods and formats to elicit and organize ideas. For instance, you can use brainstorming techniques such as mind mapping, SCAMPER, or reverse brainstorming, or you can use tools such as sticky notes, whiteboards, or online platforms. You can also vary the format of the session, such as having individual, pair, or group brainstorming, or switching between silent and vocal brainstorming.
When team dynamics vary (some extraverts / some introverts), using post-it brainstorming can be a game-changer. It gives everyone the space to collect their thoughts and contribute without feeling overwhelmed. No criticism, just ideas flowing! Plus, when it comes to grouping ideas, it's remarkable how common threads emerge, fostering shared interests and unexpected connections within the team. #CollaborationWins #BrainstormingInclusivity
This is why I love Lego Serious Play (LSP) anytime you want to hear the ideas and opinions of everyone in the room, not just the loudest or the most senior. There’s much more to LSP than space here, however, fundamental tenants of ‘everyone builds’, ‘everyone shares’ and ‘everyone listens to each other (respectfully)’ means that everyone in the room is involved and heard. LSP is a great leveller. With a good facilitator, psychological safety is created and playful curiosity encouraged. There are a lot of times when I have used LSP or seen it used to get solutions to things that I believe would have not happened any other way, or it would have taken much longer.
Couldn’t agree more with this Lou … LSP is about inclusion, safe environments and jump starting those creative thought pathways with the stimulation of intelligence and touch. Tried and tested many many times and this is hands down one of the best ways of ensuring everyone gets a say and more importantly that everyone is listened to!
When establishing goals and rules for brainstorming, it is crucial to promote a productive environment. a clear objective for the session, encouraging the generation of ideas without initial judgment. Establish rules to ensure equitable participation, such as limiting speaking time and cultivating diversity of perspectives. Remember that all ideas are valid during the brainstorming phase, without preliminary criticism.
I'm a huge fan of mindmapping! I love it, because that's exactly how my brain works. Keep in mind that your preferred methods may not be the best methods for the group you are facilitating. What works best for them will be up to them to decide. Be ok with this uncertainty, by being prepared to utilise several formats. You could send a survey before the session to get participants to vote on their preferred methods and go with the majority vote. In your survey, you'd get great insights if you ask about their specific learning styles and feedback orientation. This will help you design an outstanding workshop!
One of the benefits of brainstorming is that it can generate a variety of perspectives and insights from different people. However, some people may feel more comfortable or confident than others to express their ideas, or some ideas may be more dominant or influential than others. To ensure that everyone's ideas are heard and valued, you can encourage diversity and inclusion by inviting people from different backgrounds, roles, and experiences, by creating a safe and supportive environment, and by soliciting and acknowledging feedback from everyone.
That sounds good in theory but how are you doing it? How are you actually creating a safe and supportive environment? I think this goes beyond the strategy of the meeting and more to the culture of the group.
Outra ferramenta que pode incentivar essa participa??o e diversidade é gerar o estímulo para que várias pessoas que n?o tem hábito de participar com ideias ou opini?es a se expressarem com perguntas abertas e questionamentos.
To truly encourage diversity and inclusion in your workshop or session, you need to work hard on levelling the playing field. What does that mean? It means that you'll need to consider accessibility. Does everyone have equal access to partake in this brainstorming session? Consider adjustments for visual impairment, auditory Consider adjustments for visual impairment, auditory challenges, and other accessibility needs. Ensure materials and information are presented in multiple formats to accommodate diverse learning styles. By levelling the playing field, you create an inclusive environment where everyone, regardless of their abilities or background, can actively participate and contribute to the collective experience.
Another way to stimulate and expand ideas is to ask open-ended and probing questions that invite exploration, clarification, and elaboration. For example, you can ask questions such as "What if...", "How might...", "Why do you think...", or "How does this relate to...". By asking open-ended and probing questions, you can help your team to think deeper, broader, and differently about the problem and the possible solutions.
Picture a brainstorming session as a vibrant dinner table conversation. Much like asking your friend about their day, open-ended questions invite team members to share freely without constraints. Instead of a closed "yes" or "no" response, these questions encourage the beautiful unraveling of unique thoughts and perspectives. Moreover, the magic happens when we sprinkle in probing questions – the kind that gently nudges individuals to delve deeper into their ideas. It's like peeling the layers of an onion, revealing richer insights and hidden gems. Personally, I've found that this approach not only ensures a diverse array of ideas but also makes team members feel valued for the depth of their contributions!
During brainstorming sessions, it is important everyone share as much as they can as this promotes better understanding of the ideas been shared. Open-ended and probing questions (questions with why, what, when, where and how) will help to expand ideas, and help achieve the purpose of the session. These type of questions also help others in the team to build on and refine existing ideas.
I find immense fascination and joy in facilitating brainstorming sessions. Witnessing the limitless creativity and potential of individuals during these sessions is truly captivating. Here's some questions for you to provoke creative juices of the group: ?? If we were to incorporate principles from unrelated fields, what ground-breaking ideas might emerge? ?? How can we leverage emerging technologies to propel us beyond conventional solutions? ?? Imagine we have unlimited resources – what audacious steps would we take to tackle this problem?
Think of open-ended and probing questions as the keys to unlocking a treasure trove of creativity. They encourage participants to look at the problem from different angles, peel back the layers, and uncover hidden gems of innovation. And when everyone's ideas are given the chance to shine, something beautiful happens: a symphony of thoughts emerges, each one building on the last.
Asking open questions is related to how to extract knowledge of people or let them explore that on their minds. Open questions give the deep understanding of other people to the topic asked about.
After generating a large number of ideas, you need to prioritize and refine them to select the most promising ones. You can use various methods to evaluate and rank ideas, such as voting, rating, grouping, or filtering. You can also involve your team in the process of refining ideas, by asking them to provide feedback, suggestions, or improvements. By prioritizing and refining ideas, you can ensure that your team's ideas are not only heard, but also acted upon.
My favourite tool for navigating the flurry of brainstormed ideas is using an impact-effort 2x2 matrix. Organising ideas in this manner aids teams in prioritisation and minimises inefficiencies. It serves as a valuable visual aid for participants to iteratively assess the value of ideas and associated complexities through the cycle of agreement and disagreement.
Equity and Allyship. Awareness of what equity is and what allyship is and how to be an ally. This includes ensuring you've got everyone at the brainstorm in the first place and they are all comfortable and their needs are met. And everyone is aware of how to be an ally, so if someone is interrupted, bring it back to them, if someone goes off topic to test the speaker, bring it back. And so much more..
Finally, you should celebrate and follow up on the results of your brainstorming session. You can thank your team for their contributions, recognize their efforts and achievements, and share the outcomes and next steps. You can also ask your team for feedback on the brainstorming process, and identify what worked well and what can be improved. By celebrating and following up, you can foster a culture of appreciation, learning, and innovation.
By expressing gratitude you give people the incentive to contribute up ... above and beyond what they would contribute normally or in a less positive environment.
A small thanks goes a long way. It's always good practice to thank your participants for not only their great contributions but also their valuable insights and active engagement. Expressing gratitude not only acknowledges their efforts but also fosters a positive and collaborative atmosphere.
O feedback é de extrema importancia para quem está responsável por organizar e executar uma reuni?o nesse perfil de objetivo. Dar a oportunidade dos participantes compartilharem suas impress?es pode ser produtivo até mesmo para resultados nas execu??es do que foi definido.
You listen. Far too many people like the sound of their own voice and consequently others do not get heard. By actively listening simply and authentically we allow other voices to be heard as well as our own.
Paying attention to who has spoken and who has not, then asking those who have not spoken if there’s anything they would like to contribute before the discussion moves on. It can be tempting to focus on finding a chance to contribute yourself but often you’ll learn more by ensuring that everyone who wants to do so, gets the chance to contribute.
No matter how beautiful or intelligent the ideas generated in a brainstorming session are, they will remain ideas if not implemented and could be seen as a waste of everyone's time. Lack of implementation of outcomes of brainstorming sessions can be a cause for poor motivation and outcome in future sessions. It is important for there to be consistent feedback and follow-up implementation of outcomes from a brainstorming session to all stakeholders as this can encourage and be a basis for future productive sessions.
The best way to ensure that everyone's ideas are heard is to give every person equal opportunity to speak and to be listened to..One can jot down all the points of every individual on a white board so that everyone sees the contribution made by him / her.Each point on the white board should then be taken up for discussion and review one after the other .At this juncture the person who had mentioned the point may be given an opportunity to explain / elaborate the idea . The final ideas selected should be done with consensus of all the members engaged in the discussion ..
In a Team brainstorming session, set aside time from the usual hectic and frantic pace of work. Give time, usual a morning or a day, with conference room space and lots of post it notes, to talk, deliberate and innovate - speculating on the best way forward for the team in the next year. Good to do this with Teams you manage in January or the start of the Tax Year in April, as to how you are going to improve on Value for Money, Profitability/Surplus generation, Customer Experience & Engagement. Have an Administrator document all the welcome thoughts of Team members and then circulate around, with a follow up meeting once the Business Plan / Strategy or new Policies are ready for implementation. Positive staff engagement = staff loyalty!