How do you set clear and realistic goals for a brainstorming session?

“It is easier to tone down a wild idea than to think up a new one” Alex Osborn (Pioneer of the idea of Brainstorming) Here are his four basic rules of brainstorming: 1.The first rule established the end goal of the process, which was to generate as many ideas as possible. The emphasis was on the quantity of ideas generated rather than the quality of the ideas. 2.The second rule was that no one was to criticize an idea. 3.The third rule was that wild ideas were welcome, in fact, they were encouraged. 4.The fourth rule was that participants were permitted to combine ideas or improve on each other’s ideas. Ideally 5-12 participants should be involved in the process.

Scenario at Work: In a targeted brainstorming session aimed at enhancing efficiency, we collectively identified and addressed repetitive tasks, focusing on lead qualification processes. To set realistic goals, we established clear objectives: automate lead qualification using Salesforce's Process Builder, aiming for a 20% reduction in manual efforts. This specific, measurable goal ensured a realistic and achievable outcome for our team.

1. Defina o problema: antes de come?ar a brainstorming, verifique se todos entendem o problema que você está tentando resolver. 2. Defina um objetivo claro: o que você espera alcan?ar com a sess?o de brainstorming?Você está tentando ter uma nova ideia de produto?Ou você está tentando resolver um problema específico?Certifique -se de que todos saibam qual é o objetivo. 3. Incentive a criatividade: Incentive todos a pensar fora da caixa e criar idéias que possam parecer loucas a princípio. 4. Use AIDS visuais: Ands visuais como quadros brancos e notas pegajosos podem ajudar todos a permanecerem focados na tarefa em quest?o. 5. Mantenha -se na pista: é fácil ser desviado durante uma sess?o de brainstorming.

To set clear and realistic goals for a brainstorming session, define the specific problem or challenge you want to address. Clearly articulate the desired outcomes and focus on generating actionable ideas. Ensure goals are realistic by considering constraints, resources, and timeframes. Encourage diverse perspectives to enhance creativity, and establish criteria to evaluate and prioritize ideas effectively. Regularly review and adjust goals as needed during the session to stay on track.

Start by clarifying why you are conducting the brainstorming session. What problem or opportunity are you trying to address? Are you seeking creative ideas, problem-solving solutions, or innovative approaches? Clearly articulate the purpose of the session to guide participants and focus their thinking.

Three aspects are key to preparation: 1. If you're inviting introverts (as part of the diverse team) it is essential to give them a clear purpose of the brainstorm as well as the agenda ahead of the actual brainstorm session. 2. Let you participants tune into the topic of the brainstorm. Not everybody get spontanious ideas. 3. Make sure that the participants are up for co-creation and willing to build on the ideas of others - and don't just present their prepared ideas.

When preparing a team for a brainstorming session, it's crucial to emphasize that all ideas, regardless of initial impressions, are valuable. Stress that there are no 'bad' ideas and judgment should be withheld. Encourage team members to freely share thoughts, even if they see flaws in them. Often, an idea that might seem unfeasible at first can spark a solution or be refined by someone else in the group. This open, non-judgmental environment fosters collective creativity and problem-solving, turning individual limitations into team strengths.

Um fator crítico que enfrento em sess?es de brainstorming, além de fornecer as instru??es prévias, é alinhar e conter um volume excessivo de expectativas. Quando essas expectativas s?o muito altas, podem se tornar irreais e, portanto, impossíveis de implementar. Por essa raz?o, considero fundamental preparar adequadamente os participantes.

Préparer les participants ne se limite pas à l'envoi de l'ordre du jour. Pour maximiser l'efficacité d'une séance de brainstorming, il est crucial de créer une synergie cognitive avant même la réunion. En encourageant les participants à partager des idées préliminaires ou des inspirations dans un espace commun (comme un tableau virtuel), vous permettez à chacun d’accéder aux pensées des autres. Cette pré-connexion intellectuelle enrichit la qualité des échanges en séance, rendant la collaboration plus fluide et les idées plus intégrées.

In my experience, the foundation of a successful brainstorming session lies in establishing precise and attainable goals. Begin by clearly articulating the primary challenge or objective at hand. Subsequently, deconstruct it into distinct, achievable elements to guide the discussion effectively.

As a facilitator, you also need to ensure that the discussions do not diverge too much from the topic at hand. While free-spirited brainstorming is always the goal, I have seen many a times, participants bringing non related work topics to the discussions which tends to derail the process completely (we all love jumping into a juicy and feisty office gossip).

The time should be split into diverging and converging. In the diverging time, all ideas even the ones that are wild should be accepted and accounted for. The more the merrier. The first 15min should be dedicated on the top of the head ideas to make sure they are written. Then, few methods (scamper, etc) should be used to generate out of the box ideas. In the converging time, the ideas can be combined to create strong bulk-ideas. These two parts allow the generation of solid and strong ideas

It is imperative to foster a shared understanding among participants about what defines success for the session. This common perspective serves as the compass for ideation and decision-making. By setting explicit and realistic goals, we pave the way for a more purposeful and productive brainstorming experience.

To facilitate a successful brainstorming session, establish a welcoming environment, encourage open communication, and emphasize quantity over quality initially. Clearly define the session's objective, set a time limit, and assign a moderator to guide discussions. Encourage diverse perspectives, and utilize techniques like mind mapping or free association. Foster collaboration, and ensure participants feel comfortable expressing unconventional ideas. Document all contributions, and prioritize refining and evaluating ideas in a separate phase. Foster a positive, non-judgmental atmosphere to stimulate creative thinking and maximize the potential for innovative solutions.

I find leveraging tools like Miro to be extremely helpful facilitating, especially when virtual. Also, we all tend to get off track, so having a parking lot to capture good points or ideas that are outside of the current scope of conversation are helpful.

It is also critical to send out the findings and results of the workshop over email later. This ensures that the topic is not lost and everybody has a reference on what was agreed in the session. This just ensures that the discussion now moves from a mere fun brainstorming to a more actionable work

I like to capture everything and every idea from everyone, then later use affinity grouping to match them up and label them. Once grouped, you can spend more time elaborating that specific point or idea.

Lorsqu'il s'agit d'évaluer les résultats, les critères traditionnels (faisabilité, co?t, etc.) sont souvent mis en avant. Cependant, intégrer l'impact émotionnel comme critère de sélection des idées peut être tout aussi crucial. Une idée qui résonne profondément avec les participants ou le public cible a souvent plus de chances de succès, même si elle semble moins viable sur le papier. En privilégiant les idées qui provoquent une forte réaction émotionnelle, vous créez des solutions plus engageantes et potentiellement révolutionnaires.

During the evaluation phase, encourage candid discussions around the feasibility, impact, and alignment of each proposed solution. Constructive feedback should be welcomed to refine and prioritize ideas based on their potential contribution to the overarching objective. By fostering an open and analytical environment, we ensure a comprehensive assessment that leads to actionable insights. Remember, the evaluation process is not just about singling out the ‘winning’ idea but understanding the collective value of the contributions. Let’s collaborate to establish effective evaluation practices that elevate the impact of our brainstorming sessions.

Evaluate a brainstorming session by considering the quantity and diversity of ideas generated. Assess the relevance to the goal, identifying innovative or unexpected suggestions. Prioritize ideas based on feasibility, impact, and alignment with objectives. Encourage team input to gauge enthusiasm and commitment. Finally, assess how well the session fostered collaboration and if it sparked further creativity.

1. Diverse Perspectives: Ensure a diverse representation of team members to bring varied viewpoints to the table. Embracing different perspectives enriches the discussion and widens the spectrum of potential solutions. 2. Time Management: Strike a balance between thorough exploration and time constraints. Setting time limits for each phase of the session helps maintain momentum while ensuring a thorough examination of ideas. 3. Documentation: Implement a robust system for documenting ideas and discussions. This not only aids in the evaluation process but also serves as a valuable resource for future reference and continuous improvement. 4. Facilitator’s Role: Designate a facilitator to guide the session, keep discussions on track.

When setting goals for a brainstorming session, I find Edward de Bono's Six Thinking Hats method incredibly useful. Each "hat" represents a different thinking style: white for facts, red for emotions, black for caution, yellow for optimism, green for creativity, and blue for organization. By using these hats, you can ensure that your goals are clear and realistic by considering multiple perspectives and focusing on specific aspects of the problem.

"For an effective brainstorming session, define a clear and achievable goal. Break down key topics, set time limits, and leave room for creativity. The perfect balance for innovative results!"

Ensure everyone feels heard and valued, cultivating a culture where innovation flourishes through collective ideation. Don't immediately critique, save evaluation for later stages.

If your overall objective is complex or broad, consider breaking it down into smaller, more manageable goals. This allows participants to focus their efforts and makes it easier to track progress. Each smaller goal should contribute to the larger objective, enabling a step-by-step approach to problem-solving or idea generation.