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Done well, a brainstorming session can help you get out of a creative rut, identify path-breaking ideas, and evangelize your team towards a common goal. It brings empathy to the problem you're solving for, and fosters collaboration among colleagues. With remote work, professional and personal networks have shrunk, leading to a decreased sense of belonging. This is especially true for new employees, who might have fewer connections at work than others.
Brainstorming brings people on the same team, and opens up the option of asking help from others.
In many ways, hosting a productive brainstorm session is like hosting a great party; the guests feel included, meet interesting people, have meaningful conversations, and want to get invited again.
Here are a few tips to facilitate successful brainstorming that feels productive for everyone involved, builds your network and helps you achieve your goals.
Create a well-intentioned guest list
Like any memorable soiree, a good brainstorm session ultimately boils down to the number and type of guests invited. If you invite few people, you’ll enjoy more in-depth conversations. Choose participants who are invested in answering the questions you’re asking. You’ll have richer conversations if you prioritize people who are subject matter experts over their designations and prominence in the org chart.
Questions to ask yourself before you finalize the participant list:
Is it valuable to involve team members not directly involved with this project?
Do you have diverse representation regarding roles, expertise, and perspective?
Is this a good forum to involve customers or clients?
Build an environment of trust and vulnerability
People have great conversations when they feel comfortable in each other’s presence. Vulnerability is also closely tied to creativity — you expose yourself to new possibilities and stay close to your truest self.
"[Feeling vulnerable] makes you face the experience fully and almost embrace it. Those moments can bring a lot of creativity and make ideas flourish." - Marina Willer
In brainstorming sessions, this translates to getting the group to a place where risks are encouraged and all ideas are welcome. There are multiple ways to achieve this. A recent study indicates that people can be primed for strong creative idea generation when they kick-off such sessions by sharing embarrassing stories. This lowers their inhibitions and, thus, improves their performance. Your icebreaker should embrace uncomfortable topics, make people laugh, lower their guard and get a free-flowing conversation going, regardless of hierarchy and designations.
Offer ‘food and drinks’ to keep the conversation flowing
At any party, good food and free-flowing drinks allow for a creatively shared space that invokes discussion, debate, and decision making. Here are a few metaphorical ‘food and drinks’ that’ll help keep your session productive:
The Facilitator’s Handbook provides you with tips to run a successful Design Sprint
Zoom Breakout Rooms allow you to split your Zoom meetings into separate sessions that help smaller groups problem solve
Google Jamboards lets you sketch your ideas whiteboard-style on an interactive canvas
Wrap up the party in style
You know it’s a good party when people don’t want the night to end. They leave feeling energized, emotionally fulfilled, and excited for the next one!
Once you complete the brainstorming session, you need to make sure you follow up and follow through. Here’s the 5-Step Brainstorm Hangover Prevention Plan
Cluster similar ideas together
Vote on Favorites
Document the Brainstorm
Prioritize Ideas
Commit to next Steps
Failing to do this gives the wrong impression to attendees, who will be less likely to attend future sessions.
Additional Reading
If you’re interested in learning more about how to run a successful brainstorming session, I recommend checking out the following resources:
How embracing vulnerability can power innovation, creativity and change
Sprint: How to Solve Big Problems and Test New Ideas in Just Five Days
Until next week,
Shrikala