You're leading a virtual brainstorming session. How can you ensure all team members feel included and valued?

define the purpose of the brainstorming session, set clear roles and expectations, ensure team understands the values of all their ideas and initiatives.

To ensure all team members feel included and valued during a virtual brainstorming session, start by setting clear expectations for participation and encouraging input from everyone. Use interactive tools like polls, breakout rooms, and collaborative whiteboards to engage participants. Actively invite quieter team members to share their ideas and ensure that each contribution is acknowledged and respected. Foster a supportive environment by reinforcing that all ideas are welcome and no contributions are too small. Regularly summarize and reflect on the ideas shared to show that all input is considered. Lastly, follow up with feedback and next steps to demonstrate that every participant’s input has been valued and will be acted upon.

establishing clear ground rules is crucial for ensuring a successful and inclusive brainstorming session. By promoting respect for all contributions, encouraging active listening, valuing every idea, and setting a positive tone, participants feel safe, motivated, and empowered to share their thoughts and ideas. By following these guidelines, teams can unlock their full creative potential, foster collaboration, and achieve their goals more effectively. As such, ground rules should be an essential component of every brainstorming session, paving the way for productive, innovative, and successful outcomes.

Virtual brainstorming sessions have some inherent barriers but steps can be taken to overcome them. 1) Ensure that all team members are present and have their cameras on which ensures that everyone has a connection with each other. 2) Establish basic common rules such as not raising voices and not speaking over each other. 3) The flow of ideas must be continuous i.e. there should not be an extended period of silence. This can be combatted by you as a team leader by asking someone to elaborate on their idea or talking about something else to ensure the conversation continues. 4) At the end of the meeting, recap everything discussed to ensure that everyone is on the same page.

Absolute use of technology through polls, virtual boards, word cloud inputs, even chat boxes.. its is extremely important to continuously provide opportunities for teams to share their thoughts and comments. It allows a free flowing conversation as well as establishes rapport.

in my experience, a simple white board can go great miles, lying out ideas where every one can visualize them, will not only make the ideas linger in the minds of readers, but also allow room for even more ideas.

Use technology to increase engagement. Utilize a digital whiteboard or collaborative document to allow team members to contribute ideas at the same time. This visual aid enables less vocal team members to contribute their ideas without needing to vie for speaking time. Furthermore, utilize functions such as chat options or emoji reactions to provide instant, non-verbal responses, enhancing participation and creating a sense of inclusivity for all involved.

Alternate the position of facilitator between team members in every session. This doesn't just distribute the accountability, but also provides every individual with an opportunity to take charge and influence the conversation. It has the ability to empower individuals by providing them with a feeling of ownership and significance among the team. Allowing each person to take a turn leading shows faith in their skills and promotes a wider variety of viewpoints.

Split your team into smaller subgroups during a portion of the meeting. This strategy promotes deeper conversations and guarantees an opportunity for all to participate. Decreasing group size can lessen the sense of intimidation experienced in bigger environments and can bring forward ideas that may go unnoticed. Later, come together again to discuss the ideas presented by each group, making sure that everyone's opinions are acknowledged in a public setting.

Following the brainstorming session, provide a recap of the ideas that were discussed and outline the upcoming actions. This ensures everyone is on the same page and demonstrates appreciation for their contributions. Recognize all individuals involved and emphasize certain concepts that will be carried on. This cycle of feedback enhances the importance of contributions from each member and sustains the momentum after the session ends.