How can you use virtual whiteboards to maximize brainstorming and ideation?

1 Choose the right platform

There are many options for virtual whiteboards, each with different features, functionalities, and pricing. Some of the most popular ones include Miro, Mural, Jamboard, and Conceptboard. Depending on your needs and preferences, you may want to consider factors such as ease of use, accessibility, collaboration, integration, security, and customization. You may also want to test out different platforms before deciding which one to use for your brainstorming and ideation sessions.

2 Set clear goals and guidelines

Before you start brainstorming and ideation, you should have a clear idea of what you want to achieve and how you want to conduct the session. You should define the problem or challenge you are trying to solve, the scope and criteria of the solution, the roles and responsibilities of the participants, and the time and budget constraints. You should also establish some ground rules for the session, such as how to use the virtual whiteboard, how to communicate and give feedback, and how to document and evaluate the ideas.

3 Use a variety of techniques and templates

One of the advantages of using virtual whiteboards is that you can apply a variety of techniques and templates to stimulate brainstorming and ideation. For example, you can use mind maps, SWOT analysis, affinity diagrams, brainstorming grids, SCAMPER, six thinking hats, and many more. You can either create your own templates or use the ones provided by the platform. You can also switch between different techniques and templates to keep the session fresh and engaging.

4 Encourage participation and interaction

Another benefit of using virtual whiteboards is that you can foster participation and interaction among the participants. You can invite them to share their ideas, opinions, and insights on the virtual whiteboard, using text, images, icons, shapes, colors, and other elements. You can also use features such as voting, commenting, chatting, and video conferencing to facilitate discussion and feedback. You can also create breakout rooms or sub-boards for smaller groups or individual work.

5 Review and refine the ideas

After you have generated a lot of ideas on the virtual whiteboard, you should review and refine them to select the most promising ones. You can use different methods to evaluate the ideas, such as rating, ranking, grouping, filtering, clustering, or dot voting. You can also use features such as zooming, panning, or exporting to organize and present the ideas. You should also document and archive the ideas for future reference or improvement.

6 Follow up and implement the ideas

The last step of using virtual whiteboards for brainstorming and ideation is to follow up and implement the ideas. You should communicate the results and outcomes of the session to the participants and other stakeholders, and solicit their feedback and suggestions. You should also assign tasks and responsibilities for the next steps, and monitor the progress and impact of the ideas. You can use features such as sharing, syncing, or integrating to connect the virtual whiteboard with other tools or platforms.

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?