How can you improve your brainstorming sessions?

1 Choose a clear and specific goal

Before you start brainstorming, you need to have a clear and specific goal for what you want to achieve. A vague or broad goal can lead to confusion, frustration, and irrelevant ideas. A clear and specific goal can help you focus, motivate, and guide your brainstorming process. For example, instead of saying "We want to improve our customer service", you can say "We want to reduce the average waiting time for our customers by 10%".

2 Invite diverse and motivated participants

The quality and quantity of your brainstorming ideas depend largely on the people who participate in the session. You want to invite people who are diverse, motivated, and knowledgeable about the topic. Diversity can bring different perspectives, experiences, and insights that can enrich and challenge your brainstorming. Motivation can foster enthusiasm, engagement, and commitment to the brainstorming process. Knowledge can provide relevant and useful information, facts, and data that can support and validate your ideas.

3 Establish a positive and supportive environment

The environment in which you brainstorm can have a significant impact on your creativity and innovation. You want to create a positive and supportive environment that encourages openness, collaboration, and experimentation. A positive and supportive environment can help you overcome fear, judgment, and criticism that can inhibit your brainstorming. Some ways to create a positive and supportive environment are to set ground rules, use icebreakers, provide feedback, and celebrate successes.

4 Use various and flexible methods

There is no one-size-fits-all method for brainstorming. Different methods can suit different goals, participants, and situations. You want to use various and flexible methods that can stimulate, challenge, and inspire your brainstorming. Various and flexible methods can help you avoid boredom, repetition, and conformity that can limit your brainstorming. Some examples of various and flexible methods are mind mapping, SCAMPER, brainstorming games, and online tools.

6 Follow up and take action

The final and most important step of brainstorming is to follow up and take action on your ideas. Following up and taking action can help you turn your ideas into reality and achieve your goal. Some ways to follow up and take action are to assign roles, set deadlines, monitor progress, communicate results, and celebrate achievements.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?