How do you Brainstorm?
With brainstorming, you do not immediately start to solve the problem. You first work with the team to come up with as many ideas and solutions as possible to reach a well-considered decision.
Tips before you start
A brainstorming session starts with a phase of free thinking without rules. We are often used to systems and processes, so that free thinking does not feel natural. Therefore, free-thinking doesn’t feel natural. Brainstorming provides new ideas and insights to solve the problem. This has a motivating effect and develops teams.
How do you start with a session that your team will think freely and come up with good solutions? With a brainstorming process, the team starts to think creatively and logically.
Some rules for brainstorming
- There are no bad ideas, be creative in coming up with solutions.
- Quantity goes above quality, share everything that comes to mind
- Build on the other person’s ideas
- Don’t judge what the other person says
- All ideas can be shared and written down without further group discussion.
How does the brainstorming process work?
For a brainstorming session you need a whiteboard, a flipchart, post-its or a large sheet of paper. This sheet of paper is preferably brown wrapping paper, because a white sheet of paper is often associated with a final solution. Everyone on the team can see what is being written down.
A facilitator keeps a close eye on the brainstorming process.
The facilitator takes care of the following 6 steps:
- Brainstorm with a time limit where everything is written down
- Categorise ideas and clarify them if possible
- Evaluate possible effects
- All options are ordered by degree of suitability
- Agree with the team what the next steps are and in what time frame this will take place
- Check what eventually happens.
Do you want to know more about brainstorming?
Please contact us for brainstorming session or brainstorming workshop.