What do you do if your brainstorming sessions aren't generating innovative ideas?

It is sometimes difficult to generate innovative ideas in structured environments. Innovation ideas sometimes just appear with the right conditions, including the people and quality of discussion. Realigning goals is one approach, rethinking the problem we aim to solve in another. If all else fail, don’t worry, restart with fresh minds at another time. Innovation can’t be rushed.

Make sure your environment is healthy. Then take a break. Once you are more comfortable, build upon old ideas. It's a useful hack, building upon old ideas brings you another version of what you have, and other ideas will pop up in your mind, once you notice the ones that poped up, keep them.

To me, by diversifying your team, changing the environment, setting clear objectives and constraints, and experimenting with different brainstorming techniques, you can revitalize your brainstorming sessions and ignite the spark of innovation within your team. Remember that innovation often thrives on diversity, creativity, and a willingness to explore new ideas and approaches.

Before starting a brainstorming session, it is crucial to rethink and clearly define the goals to ensure the session is productive and aligned with the broader objectives of the team or organization. Specific and inspiring goals help focus the group's creative energy, facilitating the generation of innovative ideas that are relevant and useful. For instance, transforming a general objective like "improve the website" into something more targeted, such as "increase website usability for mobile users," can provide a clearer path for productive discussions and practical outcomes. This approach not only improves the effectiveness of the session but also motivates participants by directly connecting them with the desired results of the project.

Review the ideas generated and look for potential nuggets of innovation. Sometimes, seemingly ordinary ideas can be combined or developed further to spark innovative solutions. By rethinking the goals and adjusting the approach to brainstorming, you can reignite creativity and generate innovative ideas to achieve your objectives.

Many inspirational conversations i had, that led to brainstorming breakthroughs, have been at my gym sauna, after work. I get a chance to talk to people of all ages and from all walks of life, that I probably wouldn't interact otherwise. Going for an hour without looking at a screen, while simultaneously having face-face conversations with different people, has helped me a lot.

Switch up the environment or location where brainstorming sessions take place. A change of scenery can stimulate fresh perspectives and spark creativity. Consider holding sessions outdoors, in a different workspace, or even virtually to inspire new ideas.

If your brainstorming sessions are not generating the desired outcome try and change the environment or location where the sessions are taking place. This could be a different room or another office space, on another hand, schedule an out of office session. The change of environment or scenery could mean a change in perspectives and improvement on morale and creativity.

Sometimes a change of scenery can work wonders for revitalizing a stagnant brainstorming session. If your usual meeting space isn't inspiring innovation, consider relocating. Whether it's a different room, a walk outside, or a nearby café, new environments can stimulate the senses and spark new thoughts. The physical act of moving to a new location can also symbolize a mental shift, helping participants to think differently and approach problems from fresh angles.

Es esencial que las organizaciones creen entornos que estimulen la creatividad y la innovación, alineados con los principios de las metodologías ágiles. Espacios que promuevan la comodidad y colaboración son clave, ya que desafían las estructuras jerárquicas tradicionales y fomentan la adaptabilidad. Aunque muchas empresas adoptan modelos de trabajo ágiles, aún persisten oficinas convencionales que limitan la creatividad. Adoptar un cambio cultural hacia prácticas ágiles e integrar recursos como áreas de descanso y salas de colaboración puede revitalizar la dinámica laboral, aumentando la productividad y la satisfacción del equipo

By including participants from different departments, backgrounds, and even external stakeholders, you can create a rich tapestry of insights that can drive creativity and problem-solving.

Costumo dizer que pessoas criativas valem muito e que a criatividade por si só se basta. Mesmo que n?o se consiga aplicar as ideias necessariamente naquele momento, elas s?o uma série de insights criativos que, em algum momento, podem gerar alguma inova??o de fato (e n?o importa se pequena ou grande, pois em tudo há valor). Já trabalhei em Time de Estratégia onde todos os Torós de Ideias vinham apenas de nós mesmos, e hoje penso que isso foi um erro. A criatividade é esgotável para o cérebro humano por um certo período de tempo e trazer novas pessoas significaria novas ideias - desde que elas tenham um perfil criativo também. A diversidade que é o caminho, e n?o achar que ideias brilhantes apenas podem vir de um lugar em específico.

In my experiences when people hit a wall and can′t get through it, a set of outside eyes can help see things from a different perspective and unlock everyone's minds with plenty new ideas and fresh angles.

Ensure diversity in perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences among participants in brainstorming sessions. Encourage the inclusion of individuals from different departments, disciplines, or roles to bring a variety of insights and ideas to the table.

Inviting individuals from different departments or backgrounds can introduce new perspectives and challenge the status quo. Diversity in thought and experience is crucial for innovation as it encourages people to view problems through a different lens. Encourage participants from various parts of your organization, or even clients and external partners, to join the brainstorming sessions and contribute their unique insights. This inclusion not only enriches the creative process but also broadens the range of possible solutions.

Task switching can help unblock a process that is stuck creatively, especially if it's an intense and rapid session. Frame the brief again, then pause the current activity and get the team doing something completely different or working on a different aspect. Their unconscious will continue sorting through the problem, and when they return refreshed, new ideas and solutions may well present themselves.

uma das possibilidades é utilizar a “associa??o livre de ideias” método da psicanálise para incentivar as pessoas a comunicarem de forma livre e assim as ideias fluírem, sem obstáculos e sem julgamentos, para que as pessoas se sintam confortáveis no processo.

Personally what I do when working with teams is that we start joking and talking about our personal lives, and then gradually I steer the team back to the topic. It works like magic, and it unlocks the inner child's creativity

Experiment with different brainstorming techniques or methodologies to spark creativity and innovation. Techniques such as mind mapping, role-playing, or the SCAMPER method can provide structured frameworks for generating ideas and exploring possibilities.

Personally what I do when working with teams is that we start joking and talking about our personal lives, and then gradually I steer the team back to the topic. It works like magic, and it unlocks the in child's creativity

Kick off your brainstorming session with some fun warm-up activities or icebreakers to spark that creativity and get everyone thinking outside the box. You could try some creative exercises, throw in a few thought-provoking questions, or use visual prompts to get the ball rolling.

Create a safe and non-judgmental space where participants feel comfortable sharing their ideas freely without fear of criticism. Encourage a mindset of openness and curiosity, where all ideas are considered valid and valuable contributions to the brainstorming process.

importante estabelecer o “espa?o seguro”, ou seja, livre de julgamentos pra que as pessoas envolvidas sintam que podem colaborar de maneiras diversas. as ideias que depois ser?o consideradas boas, ruins, inadequadas, excelentes… ter?o o mesmo valor no momento do brainstorming. toda experiência conta pra ajudar a solucionar um problema.

Switching it up from the statement "There is no such thing as a dumb question" from Carl Sagan, I bring you "No idea shared is a dumb idea". With this motto everyone feels free to share their ideias without any fear of criticism and judgement.

One of the biggest killers of creativity is the fear of judgment. Ensure that your brainstorming environment is one where all ideas are welcomed without immediate criticism. Establish ground rules that defer judgment until after the ideation phase. This encourages a free flow of ideas and helps participants feel safe to share even the most outlandish thoughts, which could potentially be the seed for a truly innovative solution. Creating a safe space for idea expression is crucial for unlocking the group's creative potential.

After each brainstorming session, take time to reflect on what worked and what didn’t. This reflection isn't about assigning blame but rather about understanding how to improve future sessions. Consider what factors might have hindered idea generation and what changes could be implemented next time. Continuous adaptation and a willingness to refine your approach are key to maintaining an innovative edge in your brainstorming sessions.

After each brainstorming session, take time to reflect on what worked well and what could be improved. Gather feedback from participants and adapt your approach or techniques accordingly to better facilitate innovation in future sessions.

Structured brainstorming is brilliant if you get it right, but can be frustrating for all involved if you get it wrong. Before any session, you need to plan what it is you want to achieve, who's going to be there, what methods you're going to use, how to structure the session, and what tools and techniques and encouragaing speeches to have available in the event that you hit blockages. Remember, some people may not understand the process and think it's "going nowhere" until it all comes together towards the end.

Take time off. Go into nature individually and reflect on the session and the goals the group is trying to achieve. Create space between the end point and where you are now and let things be. Sometimes letting go and surrendering to 'not knowing' will bring all the answers.

Allow sufficient time for brainstorming sessions to unfold naturally without feeling rushed. Balance the need for structure with flexibility to allow for spontaneous idea generation and exploration.

Combining ideas is one strategy I've found useful in generating innovative ideas. Here's how I do it. 1. Write each of your brainstormed ideas on a separate piece of paper or card. 2. Shuffle the cards or pieces of paper, then without looking pick any two. 3. Think of ways of combining the two ideas. What connections exist between them, even if they are ill-defined and weak. The value of this activity lies in forcing yourself to find a way of combining the two ideas. The first ideas may not be great, but as you continue to consider the connections, better, stronger ideas will emerge. Continue combining cards until you've gone through all the ideas. Review the new ideas and stop or reshuffle your cards and start again.

How are your brainstorming sessions constructed? Every team member should be given the creative brief and sufficient time to divide and look for examples of research, ideas and creatives that inspires them. Once convened, allow each idea to be explored without judgment or constraints such as budget and time, etc. If you hit a brick wall, disperse again and allow the topic to really sit and digest. One key factor not to be missed is speaking to experts in the field. Open the bubble. See if someone else inside or outside the team or organisation can spark a potential new connection or idea that will be sure to spark new energy and purpose.