brainstorming and problem solving methods

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Blog Beginner Guides Brainstorming Examples + Techniques For Problem Solving

Brainstorming Examples + Techniques For Problem Solving

Written by: Krystle Wong Sep 08, 2023

So — you’re faced with a complex problem that seems as daunting as a mountain. You’ve tried all the usual approaches, but the solution remains elusive. What do you do? That’s where a good brainstorming mind map maker comes into play. 

This article is your backstage pass to the world of brainstorming. I’m not just going to give you the playbook; I’m going to show you how it’s done with brainstorming examples that will have you saying, “Why didn’t I think of that?” 

So, no more beating around the brainstorming bush. Let’s roll up our sleeves and dive into the many effective techniques and examples that will turbocharge your problem-solving game. It’s time to unleash your inner brainstorming genius!

Click to jump ahead:

What are the 4 rules of brainstorming

12+ brainstorming mind map examples for problem solving, 10 effective brainstorming techniques that work, 5 common mistakes to avoid during brainstorming, brainstorming examples faq.

• 5 steps to create a brainstorming mind map with Venngage

The concept of brainstorming was introduced by Alex Osborn, an advertising executive and he outlined four key rules to facilitate effective brainstorming sessions. 

These rules are often referred to as the “Four Rules of Brainstorming” and are designed to encourage creativity and a free flow of ideas within a group. Here are the four rules:

No judgment: All ideas are welcomed and accepted without criticism or evaluation during a brainstorming session. This rule encourages participants to feel free to express even unconventional or seemingly impractical ideas.

Quantity over quality: Forget about perfection for now. In brainstorming, it’s like a numbers game – the more ideas, the merrier. Don’t get bogged down in refining each idea to perfection; just get them out there.

Build on the ideas of others: Teamwork makes the dream work. When someone throws out an idea, don’t just nod and move on. Add your spin, build on it or take it in a different direction. It’s all about collaboration and bouncing off each other’s creativity.

Encourage wild and creative ideas: Embrace the weird, the wild and the wacky. Sometimes the most outlandish ideas can be the seeds of genius solutions. So, don’t be shy – let your imagination run wild. 

So, the next time you’re in a brainstorming session, remember these rules. They’re not just guidelines; they’re the keys to unlocking your team’s creative potential. With these principles in play, you’ll find yourself reaching new heights of innovation and problem-solving.

Mind maps are a powerful tool for brainstorming, helping individuals and teams visualize ideas, make connections and unleash their creative potential. 

Whether you’re conducting a team retrospective or embarking on a corporate brainstorm, you can significantly enhance idea generation, boost efficient learning and note taking with mind maps . Get started with one of the brainstorming mind map examples below. 

1. Team retrospective board

When creating a mind map for a team retrospective, it’s essential to strike a balance between structure and flexibility. 

To achieve this, consider color-coding categories such as “What went well,” “What needs improvement,” and “Action items.” This visual differentiation helps participants quickly identify and prioritize discussion areas. 

Additionally, incorporating a timeline element within the mind map can provide a visual representation of the project’s progression, enabling the team to recall specific events and experiences. 

You can further enhance the visual appeal and emotional context by using icons or symbols to represent sentiments, such as happy faces for positive experiences and sad faces for challenges.

2. Business model brainstorm

Designing a mind map for brainstorming a business model necessitates a structured approach to represent various model elements coherently. 

Incorporate color to cover essential components like value proposition, customer segments, revenue streams and distribution channels. Color coding can help visually organize your ideas and make the map more visually appealing.

To make each component stand out and aid comprehension, incorporate icons or relevant images. For instance, use a dollar sign icon to represent revenue streams. Consistency in color schemes helps differentiate sections and highlights essential elements.

3. Collaborative brainstorm

Collaborative brainstorming often involves multiple participants contributing ideas simultaneously. 

To ensure efficient organization and clarity, assign specific branches within the mind map to individual participants. This approach helps maintain ownership of ideas and prevents overlap. 

Encourage participants to contribute further context by adding comments or annotations to each branch. Utilize mind mapping software that supports real-time collaboration if the brainstorming session involves remote teams, enabling seamless teamwork and idea exchange.

These collaborative brainstorming examples can be helpful in generating ideas during your next brainstorming process:

4. Product improvement brainstorm

Brainstorming product improvements requires an effective categorization and prioritization of ideas. Organize your mind map by creating branches for different areas of improvement, such as usability enhancements, additional features or performance optimization. 

Begin by sharing user feedback, reviews or customer pain points related to the product. This provides context and helps participants understand the existing challenges.

Then, organize your mind map into categories based on different aspects of the product, such as features, user experience, performance or customer support.

Product improvement is an ongoing process so make sure to not limit your brainstorming to a one-time event. Schedule regular sessions to continually enhance the product.

5. Corporate brainstorm

In a corporate brainstorming session, where diverse topics and ideas are on the agenda, systematic organization is crucial. 

Divide your mind map into sections and subsections to address various corporate aspects, such as HR, marketing, finance and operations. For example, this mind map on corporate initiative ideas divides the sections into different CSR programs and initiatives that the company can do to enhance public image:

To highlight potential synergies between related ideas from different sections, connect them with clear cross-references. Additionally, for practicality, include action items or tasks linked to specific ideas to facilitate a smooth implementation process within the corporate framework.

6. Creative brainstorm

Creative brainstorms thrive on spontaneity and inspiration — which is why your mind map design should encourage free-flowing ideas and unconventional thinking. 

Opt for a non-linear, organic structure within the mind map, avoiding rigid hierarchies that can stifle creativity. Embrace the use of visuals, such as images, sketches or mood boards, to stimulate creativity and inspiration. 

Here’s a brainstorming mind map example that teachers can use to generate exciting classroom activities and keep students engaged:

Allow branches to extend in unexpected directions, reflecting the dynamic and imaginative nature of creative brainstorming. This approach encourages participants to explore unconventional ideas and perspectives, fostering a truly creative atmosphere during the session.

Brainstorming aside, mind maps are versatile tools useful for organizing complex information, creating study aids, structuring project plans and facilitating communication and knowledge sharing in collaborative settings.

Browse our selection of mind map templates or learn about the best mind mapping software to help enhance creativity, solve problems and organize ideas.

Unleashing your team’s creativity through effective brainstorming techniques is a game-changer when it comes to generating new ideas and innovative solutions. Let’s delve into ten creative brainstorming techniques that can breathe life into your brainstorming sessions:

1. Mind mapping

Like concept maps , mind mapping is great for emphasizing the connections and relationships between ideas. You start with a central idea and then let your thoughts branch out like tree branches. Mind mapping is a great way to spot connections you might have missed.

2. Brainwriting

Forget talking — this one’s all about writing your ideas down. Brainwriting lets you pass your ideas around and let your team add their two cents. It’s a great brainstorming strategy for getting everyone involved especially if you’re brainstorming with a large group.

3. SCAMPER Method

SCAMPER stands for Substitute, Combine, Adapt, Modify, Put to another use, Eliminate and Reverse. This technique encourages participants to explore these strategies for idea generation.

4. Storyboarding

Create a visual narrative or storyboard to explore ideas sequentially. This can help enhance understanding the flow and practicality of concepts, especially in product development or process improvement. Check out our gallery of storyboard templates you could use to generate new ideas.

5. Role storming

Ever tried brainstorming as someone else? In this technique, you put on different thinking caps, like playing pretend. It’s awesome for seeing things from fresh angles.

6. Worst possible idea

This one’s my favorite! Deliberately come up with the crummiest, silliest ideas you can think of. Oddly enough, they can spark some brilliant ones!

7. Round-robin brainstorming

One of my favorite group brainstorming techniques, everyone gets a turn to share their ideas with round-robin brainstorming — no interrupting or dominating the conversation. This technique ensures that everyone has an equal opportunity to contribute.

8. SWOT Analysis

Analyze the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats related to the problem or idea. This structured approach helps identify potential areas for improvement or innovation. Browse our SWOT analysis templates for more inspiration.

9. Random word or image association

Start with something random, like “banana” or “dolphin,” and brainstorm from there. It’s like mental gymnastics and it can lead to some seriously cool ideas.

10. Nominal group technique

For this brainstorming technique, Participants individually generate ideas, which are then anonymously shared and discussed as a group, ensuring balanced participation and minimizing the influence of dominant voices.

To further fuel your brainstorming sessions, you could always consider using a brainstorming tool to facilitate collaboration, structure ideas and provide visual frameworks. From virtual whiteboards to mind maps, here’s a list of brainstorming tools that can cater to various needs and preferences in brainstorming sessions.

Brainstorming sessions can be exhilarating bursts of creativity, but they can also veer off course if not handled with care. Here, we’ll explore five common missteps to steer clear of and conduct a successful brainstorming session.

1. Criticizing ideas too early

When participants criticize or judge ideas too soon in the brainstorming process, it can discourage creativity and stifle the generation of innovative solutions. To avoid this, it’s essential to foster an environment where all ideas are welcomed without immediate criticism.

Solution: Embrace the “No Judgment” rule we mentioned earlier. Encourage a judgment-free zone where all ideas are welcome to generate as many ideas, no matter how unusual or impractical they might seem initially. 

2. Groupthink

Ah, groupthink – the silent brainstorming killer. It’s when the desire for harmony within the group overrides critical thinking. Everyone nods along to ideas, not because they believe in them, but to avoid conflict.

Solution: Foster an atmosphere where dissenting opinions are not only tolerated but encouraged. Encourage team members to play devil’s advocate and don’t let conformity hold your brainstorming sessions hostage.

3. Ignoring introverted participants

In the whirlwind of brainstorming, extroverted voices can dominate the conversation, leaving introverts feeling like they’re stranded on the sidelines. Their valuable ideas may get lost in the noise.

Solution: Implement techniques like brainwriting or round-robin brainstorming, which give everyone an equal chance to contribute without the pressure of immediate verbal expression. 

4. Prioritizing quantity over quality

Yes, quantity matters in brainstorming, but swinging the pendulum too far toward generating sheer volume can leave you drowning in a sea of mediocre ideas.

Solution: Balance is key. Encourage the generation of many ideas, but once you’ve amassed a list, focus on quality. Sort through them, identify the most promising ones and build upon them collectively.

5. Neglecting follow-up and implementation

Brainstorming is exhilarating, but it’s just the first lap in the race. Failing to follow up on the ideas generated and implementing the best ones is like baking a cake and never eating it.

Solution: Assign responsibility for each idea’s follow-up and implementation. Establish clear timelines and action plans. Make sure the fruits of your brainstorming labor don’t gather dust on the shelf.

By sidestepping these brainstorming bloopers, you’ll be on your way to brilliant solutions and groundbreaking ideas, all while avoiding the pitfalls of the brainstorming jungle. 

Ready to kickstart your brainstorming session? These brainstorm presentation templates might come in handy to help spark creativity, ideation and foster collaborative problem-solving within a team. 

How does brainstorming help with the writing process

Brainstorming helps the writing process by generating a pool of diverse ideas, facilitating idea organization and overcoming writer’s block. It allows writers to explore different angles and perspectives for their content.

Are there any online tools or software for collaborative brainstorming?

Yes, there are several online tools and software for collaborative brainstorming, such as Miro, Stormboard and Google Jamboard. These platforms enable teams to brainstorm ideas in real-time, regardless of physical location.

What are some brainstorming activities for team building and creativity?

Brainstorming activities for team building and creativity include “Two Truths and a Lie,” “Role Reversal” and “The Six Thinking Hats.” These creative exercises promote trust, collaboration and out-of-the-box thinking among team members to generate creative ideas.

How do I encourage creative thinking during a brainstorming session?

To encourage creative thinking during a brainstorming session, create a non-judgmental environment, encourage wild ideas, use creative prompts and mix up the group dynamics. To facilitate productive brainstorming sessions, reward creativity and emphasize the importance of novelty and innovation.

What role does creativity play in effective brainstorming?

Creativity plays a central role in effective brainstorming as it drives the generation of innovative ideas and solutions. Without creativity, brainstorming sessions can become routine and fail to produce breakthrough concepts.

What are the benefits of using brainstorming examples in a business or creative context?

Using brainstorming examples in a business or creative context can provide tangible illustrations of successful brainstorming outcomes. They can inspire participants, provide a framework for idea generation and demonstrate the practical application of brainstorming techniques. Additionally, they can serve as a reference point for future brainstorming sessions.

5 steps to create a brainstorming mind map with Venngage 

In conclusion, mastering the art of brainstorming is like unlocking a treasure chest of solutions to your most challenging problems. By exploring a variety of brainstorming techniques and with the help of the above examples of brainstorming, you’ve gained valuable tools to tackle issues with confidence and creativity.

Now, to bring it all together, consider harnessing the power of visual thinking through a brainstorming mind map. Venngage offers a seamless solution that can transform your brainstorming ideas into organized, inspiring journeys using mind maps . To create a brainstorming mind map with Venngage:

• Sign in or create a free Venngage account.
• Pick a brainstorm mind map template to get started. 
• Add your central idea in the central node.
• Create branches and subtopics by clicking, dragging and labeling.
• Customize your mind map with colors, fonts, icons and connectors to make it visually appealing.

Remember, the beauty of brainstorming lies in its boundless potential, always ready to surprise you with fresh perspectives and creative solutions.

So, whether you’re tackling complex business dilemmas or personal puzzles, put your thinking hat on for a productive brainstorming session and let all the ideas roam free. 

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What is brainstorming?

Table of contents

Definition of brainstorming.

Brainstorming is a creative thinking technique for coming up with new ideas and solving problems. Teams use this ideation method to encourage new ways of thinking and collectively generate solutions. Brainstorming encourages free thinking and allows for all ideas to be voiced without judgment, fostering an open and innovative environment. This process typically involves a group of people, although it can be done individually as well.

This guide will help you get the most out of every creative session. When you're ready to start your next free thinking exercise, jump into Miro’s brainstorming tool to generate ideas and turn them into action.

What is the main purpose of brainstorming?

The primary purpose of a brainstorming session is to generate and document many ideas, no matter how “out there” they might seem. Through this lateral thinking process, inventive ideas are suggested, which sparks creative solutions. By encouraging everyone to think more freely and not be afraid to share their ideas, teams can build on each other’s thoughts to find the best possible solution to a problem. Brainstorming usually takes place in a group setting where people get together to creatively solve problems and come up with ideas. However, it’s also useful for individuals who need to explore novel solutions to a problem. Sitting down by yourself and writing down solutions to potential problems is a great way to brainstorm individually. Focusing your mind on a defined problem allows you to think of many creative ways to get to an answer. While brainstorming normally allows for free-form methods of thinking and doesn’t require many rules, the best results usually stem from controlled sessions. Posing questions and role-playing different scenarios during the brainstorming session is a smart way to pull out unusual ideas and never-before-thought-of solutions.

Benefits of brainstorming

Why is brainstorming such a popular approach to solving problems and generating ideas? Here are some of its many advantages:

Encourages creativity

Brainstorming sessions are meant to be free of judgment. Everyone involved is meant to feel safe and confident enough to speak their minds. There will be some good and some bad ideas, but this doesn’t matter as long as the final outcome is one that can solve the problem. This kind of free-thinking environment, along with a few essential brainstorming rules, encourage creativity in the workplace.

Fosters collaboration and team building

Brainstorming is not only good for problem-solving. It also allows employees and team members to understand how the people around them think. It helps the team get to know each other’s strengths and weaknesses and helps build a more inclusive and close-knit workforce.

Generates innovative, revolutionary ideas

Brainstorming is the perfect mix between a free-thinking, creative environment and one that is governed by rules. Being faced with a defined problem or asking questions like “What do we do in X scenario?” forces everyone in the room to come up with ideas and solutions. No two people think alike. So, combining the good parts of everyone’s answers will result in holistic and revolutionary solutions.

Establishes different perspectives

One of the major benefits of brainstorming is that it allows and encourages all members of the session to freely propose ideas. This type of environment fosters courage in people who may not usually offer their perspective on a problem. Garnering a range of different perspectives can lead to a never-before-thought-of solution.

Introduces many ideas quickly

The beauty of brainstorming is that it encourages teams to come up with many ideas in a relatively short period of time. Ideas are thrown around, and every train of thought is documented. Different perspectives give different answers, and sifting through a few good answers in quick succession may lead to the perfect solution in no time.

Types of brainstorming techniques

There are plenty of creative brainstorming techniques to choose from. Here are some of the most popular ones:

Reverse brainstorming

In a typical brainstorming session, the group is asked to consider solutions to a problem. This means that they will spend time thinking about the outcome — the end goal — rather than the root of the problem — the starting point. Reverse brainstorming is simply the opposite: teams are asked to ideate on the problem instead of the solution. This type of brainstorming is done before the start of an important project, as it helps teams anticipate any future obstacles that might arise. To help frame this way of thinking, use a Reverse Brainstorming Template to get the team started.

Random word brainstorming

One of the main goals of a brainstorming session is to come up with new ideas. One of the best ways to do this is to say the first words that come to mind when a specific topic or subject is mentioned. Random word brainstorming allows for exactly that. The team is given a problem, and they need to shout out the first words that they think of, regardless of what they are. These words are then written down and later put into interesting combinations to see if they will lead to a usable solution. This brainstorming method is extremely fast and usually very efficient at solving a defined problem. The Random Words Brainstorming Template can help get you started.

The 5 Whys Method

Like the reverse brainstorming method, the 5 Whys method aims to look at the root causes of a problem to stop that same issue from arising again. This method attempts to curb the problem before it can reoccur by asking the question “why?” over and over until it can no longer be answered. Once you reach this stage, you have arrived at the root cause of the issue.

SCAMPER model

Developed by Bob Earle, an author of creativity books for kids, the SCAMPER model was originally a game aimed at imagination development in adolescents. It has, however, become popular in the corporate world as a means of improving and encouraging creativity in team members when dealing with complex, defined problems. Using this model, your team will view a problem through 7 filters: substitute, combine, adapt, modify, put to another use, eliminate, and reverse.

Rapid ideation

Rapid ideation brainstorming is almost the exact same thinking model as random word brainstorming. In this method, however, everyone writes down the solutions they are thinking of instead of shouting them out. This gives participants a bit more privacy with their immediate thoughts — possibly leading to even more creative and revolutionary outcomes.

Starbursting

Once again, brainstorming can change based on the team’s perspective and each session’s expected outcome. Starburst brainstorming focuses on getting the team to ask questions instead of coming up with answers.

How to hold a brainstorming workshop

Ready to harness the power of a well-run brainstorming session? Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to organize a successful brainstorming workshop:

1. Assign a facilitator

When done as a group, a brainstorming session needs to have boundaries. You need to choose someone who will facilitate the session and provide guidelines for the thinking exercises that the group will partake in. This is so the session doesn’t get too scattered and stays on the right track. The facilitator should pose questions and guide the group from start to finish.

2. Establish context and ensure group understanding

A brainstorming session cannot be properly carried out without context. The group must understand why they are meeting and what the end goal of the session is. Everyone should also understand the meaning of brainstorming and what to expect from the brainstorming process. The brainstorming method that will be used should also be established (see point 5) and explained at the outset.

3. Define an objective

While brainstorming is often looked at as a form of free-thinking creativity, it is best to try to stay within certain rules. It’s essential that you define a clear objective and use the session to reach your predetermined goal.

4. Set a time limit

Setting a defined time limit before the session starts is important to the success of your brainstorming session. No doubt your team could come up with countless ideas, but there has to be a limit on how long the session can run. Knowing that you need to solve a problem within one hour, for instance, will help the team focus on the job at hand and come up with ideas faster. It will also keep everyone thinking about the same problem.

5. Decide on the brainstorming technique

The brainstorming technique that will be used must be decided on before the session begins. The best way to do this is to look at the problem at hand. If you’re looking to prevent obstacles from arising in the future, try the “5 Whys” technique. If you’re looking to come up with new marketing ideas or get creative with workplace conflicts, try the rapid ideation technique.

6. Set some ground rules

As stated above, the best and most productive brainstorming sessions are those that allow for free thinking and creativity within preset boundaries. Brainstorming ground rules are essential to to the success of the session, as they keep everyone focused on the topic at hand and ensure that no one goes off track.

7. Capture all ideas

The entire point of a brainstorming session is to come up with as many ideas as possible, regardless of whether the standalone suggestion will lead to success. This means that you need to use the right tools to document the ideas being suggested. Miro has a host of idea-capturing tools, including a simple-to-use visual platform for remote brainstorming sessions and digital sticky notes .

8. Discuss and vote on ideas

After all the ideas have been captured, it’s time to discuss them. The team needs to be productive in choosing a creative idea that suits the problem, or they can try combining a few ideas to come up with a holistic solution. To make decisions as a group and come to an agreement, teams can use the dot voting method . This technique reveals group priorities and helps everyone reach a consensus on the direction to take.

9. Turn ideas into action

Once the final idea has been chosen, it’s time to create a plan of action and a deadline for the idea to be put in place. Transform your ideas into detailed, tangible steps with the Action Plan Template . This will help with coordination between team members and ensures that nothing is missed.

Tips for your brainstorming activities

While all brainstorming sessions look a little different, here are some best practices to get the most out of yours:

Record all ideas

If you want to have a successful and productive brainstorming session, it’s important that you capture every idea suggested, good and bad. An idea might seem silly when first brought up, but it might become an invaluable idea as the session moves on. Capture everything, and right at the end, work out which ideas best suit the problem.

Ensure that everyone’s ideas are heard

When brainstorming is done as a group activity, everyone needs to feel comfortable and confident to propose ideas. The best way to make sure the environment fosters these feelings is to make the session feel like a conversation, not a presentation. Create a safe and open environment that gives everyone equal opportunity to voice their opinions and ideas.

Focus on quantity

People often like to say, "Focus on quality, not quantity," but it’s the opposite when brainstorming. In a brainstorming session, you should focus on getting as many ideas on the board as possible, even if they're only one-word ideas. These can all be used to come to a holistic solution at the end of the session. Each suggestion could be invaluable if you're coming up with a combined idea.

Brainstorming should be a fun and creative endeavor. You shouldn’t be too rigid — though some ground rules are important. If your team has weekly brainstorming sessions, try new brainstorming techniques and activities each time you meet. This will keep your team members on their toes and help make them excited about the next meeting. It will also encourage out-of-the-box thinking, which is essential to any successful brainstorming session.

Avoid criticism

We’ll say it again: there are no bad ideas in a brainstorming session. This is the attitude that all team members must adopt when entering the session. No one should be criticized for the ideas that they propose. The best way to foster an environment that is devoid of criticism and encourages creativity is to maintain a relaxed approach. This will make everyone feel comfortable and happy to contribute their ideas.

Discover more

Guide to collaborative brainstorming

When to use brainstorming (and which techniques are best)

What is brainwriting?

What is reverse brainstorming?

How to conduct a brainstorming session

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Brainstorming

What is brainstorming.

Brainstorming is a method design teams use to generate ideas to solve clearly defined design problems. In controlled conditions and a free-thinking environment, teams approach a problem by such means as “How Might We” questions. They produce a vast array of ideas and draw links between them to find potential solutions.

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How To Use Brainstorming Best

Brainstorming is part of design thinking . You use it in the ideation phase. It’s extremely popular for design teams because they can expand in all directions. Although teams have rules and a facilitator to keep them on track, they are free to use out-of-the-box and lateral thinking to seek the most effective solutions to any design problem. By brainstorming, they can take a vast number of approaches—the more, the better—instead of just exploring conventional means and running into the associated obstacles. When teams work in a judgment-free atmosphere to find the real dimensions of a problem, they’re more likely to produce rough answers which they’ll refine into possible solutions later. Marketing CEO Alex Osborn, brainstorming’s “inventor”, captured the refined elements of creative problem-solving in his 1953 book, Applied Imagination . In brainstorming, we aim squarely at a design problem and produce an arsenal of potential solutions. By not only harvesting our own ideas but also considering and building on colleagues’, we cover the problem from every angle imaginable.

“It is easier to tone down a wild idea than to think up a new one.” — Alex Osborn

Everyone in a design team should have a clear definition of the target problem. They typically gather for a brainstorming session in a room with a large board/wall for pictures/Post-Its. A good mix of participants will expand the experience pool and therefore broaden the idea space.

Brainstorming may seem to lack constraints, but everyone must observe eight house rules and have someone acting as facilitator.

Set a time limit – Depending on the problem’s complexity, 15–60 minutes is normal.

Begin with a target problem/brief – Members should approach this sharply defined question, plan or goal and stay on topic.

Refrain from judgment/criticism – No-one should be negative (including via body language) about any idea.

Encourage weird and wacky ideas – Further to the ban on killer phrases like “too expensive”, keep the floodgates open so everyone feels free to blurt out ideas (provided they’re on topic).

Aim for quantity – Remember, “quantity breeds quality”. The sifting-and-sorting process comes later.

Build on others’ ideas – It’s a process of association where members expand on others’ notions and reach new insights, allowing these ideas to trigger their own. Say “and”—rather than discourage with “but”—to get ideas closer to the problem.

Stay visual – Diagrams and Post-Its help bring ideas to life and help others see things in different ways.

Allow one conversation at a time – To arrive at concrete results, it’s essential to keep on track this way and show respect for everyone’s ideas.

To capture everyone’s ideas in a brainstorming session, someone must play “scribe” and mark every idea on the board. Alternatively, write down your own ideas as they come, and share these with the group. Often, design problems demand mixed tactics: brainstorming and its sibling approaches – braindumping (for individuals), and brainwriting and brainwalking (for group-and-individual mixes).

Take Care with Brainstorming

Brainstorming involves harnessing synergy – we leverage our collective thinking towards a variety of potential solutions. However, it’s challenging to have boundless freedom. In groups, introverts may stay quiet while extroverts dominate. Whoever’s leading the session must “police” the team to ensure a healthy, solution-focused atmosphere where even the shiest participants will speak up. A warm-up activity can cure brainstorming “constipation” – e.g., ask participants to list ways the world would be different if metal were like rubber.

Another risk is to let the team stray off topic and/or address other problems. As we may use brainstorming in any part of our design process—including areas related to a project’s main scope—it’s vital that participants stick to the problem relevant to that part (what Osborn called the “Point of View”). Similarly, by framing problems with “How Might We” questions, we remember brainstorming is organic and free of boundaries. Overall, your team should stay fluid in the search for ways you might resolve an issue – not chase a “holy grail” solution someone has developed elsewhere. The idea is to mine idea “ore” and refine “golden” solutions from it later.

How to Supercharge Brainstorming with AI

Learn more about brainstorming.

The Interaction Design Foundation’s course on Design Thinking discusses Brainstorming in depth.

This blog offers incisive insights into Brainstorming workshops .

Jonathan Courtney’s article for Smashing Magazine shows Brainstorming’s versatility .

Literature on Brainstorming

Here’s the entire UX literature on Brainstorming by the Interaction Design Foundation, collated in one place:

Learn more about Brainstorming

Take a deep dive into Brainstorming with our course Design Thinking: The Ultimate Guide .

Some of the world’s leading brands, such as Apple, Google, Samsung, and General Electric, have rapidly adopted the design thinking approach, and design thinking is being taught at leading universities around the world, including Stanford d.school, Harvard, and MIT. What is design thinking, and why is it so popular and effective?

Design Thinking is not exclusive to designers —all great innovators in literature, art, music, science, engineering and business have practiced it. So, why call it Design Thinking? Well, that’s because design work processes help us systematically extract, teach, learn and apply human-centered techniques to solve problems in a creative and innovative way—in our designs, businesses, countries and lives. And that’s what makes it so special.

The overall goal of this design thinking course is to help you design better products, services, processes, strategies, spaces, architecture, and experiences. Design thinking helps you and your team develop practical and innovative solutions for your problems. It is a human-focused , prototype-driven , innovative design process . Through this course, you will develop a solid understanding of the fundamental phases and methods in design thinking, and you will learn how to implement your newfound knowledge in your professional work life. We will give you lots of examples; we will go into case studies, videos, and other useful material, all of which will help you dive further into design thinking. In fact, this course also includes exclusive video content that we've produced in partnership with design leaders like Alan Dix, William Hudson and Frank Spillers!

This course contains a series of practical exercises that build on one another to create a complete design thinking project. The exercises are optional, but you’ll get invaluable hands-on experience with the methods you encounter in this course if you complete them, because they will teach you to take your first steps as a design thinking practitioner. What’s equally important is you can use your work as a case study for your portfolio to showcase your abilities to future employers! A portfolio is essential if you want to step into or move ahead in a career in the world of human-centered design.

Design thinking methods and strategies belong at every level of the design process . However, design thinking is not an exclusive property of designers—all great innovators in literature, art, music, science, engineering, and business have practiced it. What’s special about design thinking is that designers and designers’ work processes can help us systematically extract, teach, learn, and apply these human-centered techniques in solving problems in a creative and innovative way—in our designs, in our businesses, in our countries, and in our lives.

That means that design thinking is not only for designers but also for creative employees , freelancers , and business leaders . It’s for anyone who seeks to infuse an approach to innovation that is powerful, effective and broadly accessible, one that can be integrated into every level of an organization, product, or service so as to drive new alternatives for businesses and society.

You earn a verifiable and industry-trusted Course Certificate once you complete the course. You can highlight them on your resume, CV, LinkedIn profile or your website .

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Better Brainstorming

• Hal Gregersen

Great innovators have long known that the secret to unlocking a better answer is to ask a better question. Applying that insight to brainstorming exercises can vastly improve the search for new ideas—especially when a team is feeling stuck. Brainstorming for questions, rather than answers, helps you avoid group dynamics that often stifle voices, and it lets you reframe problems in ways that spur breakthrough thinking.

After testing this approach with hundreds of organizations, MIT’s Hal Gregersen has developed it into a methodology: Start by selecting a problem that matters. Invite a small group to help you consider it, and in just two minutes describe it at a high level so that you don’t constrain the group’s thinking. Make it clear that people can contribute only questions and that no preambles or justifications are allowed. Then, set the clock for four minutes, and generate as many questions as you can in that time, aiming to produce at least 15. Afterward, study the questions generated, looking for those that challenge your assumptions and provide new angles on your problem. If you commit to actively pursuing at least one of these, chances are, you’ll break open a new pathway to unexpected solutions.

Focus on questions, not answers, for breakthrough insights.

The Problem

Great innovators have always known that the key to unlocking a better answer is to ask a better question—one that challenges deeply held assumptions. Yet most people don’t do that, even when brainstorming, because it doesn’t come naturally. As a result, they tend to feel stuck in their search for fresh ideas.

The Solution

By brainstorming for questions instead of answers, you can create a safe space for deeper exploration and more-powerful problem solving. This brief exercise in reframing—which helps you avoid destructive group dynamics and biases that can thwart breakthrough thinking—often reveals promising new angles and unexpected insights.

About 20 years ago I was leading a brainstorming session in one of my MBA classes, and it was like wading through oatmeal. We were talking about something that many organizations struggle with: how to build a culture of equality in a male-dominated environment. Though it was an issue the students cared about, they clearly felt uninspired by the ideas they were generating. After a lot of discussion, the energy level in the room was approaching nil. Glancing at the clock, I resolved to at least give us a starting point for the next session.

• Hal Gregersen is a Senior Lecturer in Leadership and Innovation at the MIT Sloan School of Management , a globally recognized expert in navigating rapid change, and a Thinkers50 ranked management thinker. He is the author of Questions Are the Answer: A Breakthrough Approach to Your Most Vexing Problems at Work and in Life and the coauthor of The Innovator’s DNA: Mastering the Five Skills of Disruptive Innovators .

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Brainstorming: definition, ground rules, and techniques

Bring on your best ideas

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What is brainstorming.

It’s a common scenario: you need to come up with some creative ideas. Maybe you’re trying to find a solution to a complex problem, or perhaps you’re spitballing your team’s next big project.

Either way, you’re feeling the pressure to amp up your innovation and churn out some brilliant suggestions.

What happens now? Well, you might rely on a brainstorming session to get those creative juices flowing. 

Before we dig into the ins and outs of how to brainstorm effectively, it’s helpful to take a step back and actually define brainstorming. Merriam-Webster describes brainstorming as “the mulling over of ideas by one or more individuals in an attempt to devise or find a solution to a problem.” 

Sounds familiar, right? You can brainstorm on your own, but it’s a technique that’s frequently used in group settings to freely share ideas and build upon them.

Brainstorming is prevalent in today’s working world (you’ve likely been a part of a fair share of sessions yourself), but it has some serious historical roots. 

It was first introduced in 1948 by advertising executive Alex F. Osborn in his book "Your Creative Power." As the owner of his own advertising agency, he was looking for ways to pull better ideas out of his employees — something he referred to as “thinking up.” With that objective in mind, he established several principles and characteristics of brainstorming, which we’ll dig into in detail later.

Since that time, brainstorming has gained steam and become a common technique that businesses use to generate creative solutions to a variety of problems.

The importance of brainstorming

While it certainly isn’t without its criticisms and potential pitfalls, there’s a reason this technique has become so popular in the modern working world: it’s effective and is tied to numerous benefits.

Below are just a few of the many advantages of brainstorming that teams can expect to experience.

Brainstorming encourages more creative thinking.

The first benefit is obvious: brainstorming requires an individual or team to think more creatively and without boundaries, which can lead to improved ideas and suggestions. For example, did you know that the idea for the Amazon Echo was reportedly born out of a brainstorming strategy? 

Since brainstorming is often done in a group, it forces us to step away from our own biases and consider other perspectives and contributions without offering any upfront criticism. 

Beyond that, productive brainstorming exercises challenge us to not only consider other ideas but to build upon them — which leads to an even better end result. 

Brainstorming leads to better teamwork and greater group cohesiveness.

All of that working together does more than generate better ideas — it can actually improve our level of teamwork . There’s plenty of research out there that backs this up. 

“Groups that focus on both the quantity of ideas and building on the ideas of others significantly increase their cohesiveness,” said David Henningsen , a Northern Illinois University professor and researcher, who co-led a study on brainstorming . 

“Brainstorming can be used to help a team buy into and implement a plan of action, or it can be used to simply build cohesiveness, which in turn can lessen employee turnover and increase employee commitment.”

Brainstorming gives everybody a chance to be heard.

How to brainstorm: types, ground rules, and techniques.

When done right, brainstorming offers tons of perks. But that begs the question: how exactly do you do it right? 

There’s a bit of strategy involved in pulling off a successful brainstorming session. Here’s the information you need to get the very best ideas out of everyone on your team.

Brainstorming ground rules

Brainstorming techniques.

You have your brainstorming session scheduled and organized. Uhhh...now what? Your team is all just staring at each other slack-jawed. How do you get the conversation rolling? 

Below are just a few of the many different tactics that teams can use to get things started and make their brainstorming discussions that much more productive: 

• Brainwriting : With this technique, team members share ideas by writing them down independently rather than shouting them out together. It’s especially helpful if you know you have a number of introverts on your team.  
• Starting with an embarrassing story : Beginning the conversation with something that’s potentially embarrassing immediately puts everybody in a more vulnerable and open state of mind — which makes them more willing to share ideas.  
• Giving ideas time to marinate : Even though the excitement is strong, you might not want to jump into action on an idea right away. Research shows that even a brief break can give you time to strengthen that suggestion even further.  
• Figuring storming : This tactic involves putting yourself in the shoes of someone else to think about how they might handle the situation. It can be effective because it challenges us to get away from our own biases and perceptions.

Flex your creative muscles

Brainstorming can be powerful, but it involves more than pulling your team into a room and asking them to share their two cents. It requires a basic understanding to figure out your strategy. 

So, the next time you’re trying to figure out how to brainstorm business ideas, return to this overview as your starting resource. It’ll help you lay the foundation for successful brainstorming sessions moving forward, and you’ll be well on your way to getting the very best ideas out of your team.

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10 Brainstorming Techniques for Developing New Ideas

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Brainstorming is an essential practice for creative thinking and problem-solving. At its most basic, brainstorming simply means identifying a problem, and then coming up with as many fresh ideas as possible that may help solve that problem. In practice, however, brainstorming needs to be structured to be successful.

No matter which brainstorming method you try, be sure to keep these tips in mind:

• Outline a problem or topic that needs further examination and group feedback for your brainstorming session.
• Use a shared digital space to conduct your brainstorming . This not only makes brainstorming easier, but also ensures you don’t lose any ideas and have a document to refer to in the future.
• Encourage quantity over quality . Participants can often get hung up on having the “best idea” but this often leads to creative blocks. Instead, focus on generating a high number of ideas first. Once you have a lot of ideas, you can start refining the best ones. However, if you have fewer ideas, you’ll have fewer options to choose from.
• You don’t always need a facilitator, but having one can help to have somebody guide a group of people through the ideation process . If needed, assign a team leader or facilitator before the idea generation begins to keep track of time limits and record the most creative ideas.

10 brainstorming techniques for better idea generation

Question brainstorming.

Question brainstorming is a method where participants come up with as many questions about the problem as possible. In this activity, participants should only come up with questions, not answers. This method is great because it helps the group try to understand the problem completely without the pressure to have the single best solution.

How to try this technique:

• Decide on the central topic or problem you want to brainstorm for.
• Each group or individual then takes 10-15 minutes to write as many questions about the topic or problem they have without trying to come up with an answer to any of them.
• After 10-15 minutes, the group gets back together to share, group, and prioritize the questions.
• Go through the full list of questions and start answering each one to better understand the core topic or problem.

Need inspiration? Check out these 25 brainstorming questions for effective brainstorms .

Hybrid brainstorming

The best way to get the most out of your brainstorming efforts is to combine the best of async and real-time idea generation. This technique starts off with individual brainstorming and ends with a collaborative, group brainstorming session.

How to do it:

• Chose the top 5 questions you want the brainstorming session to be based around.
• Have each participant begin brainstorming in their own dedicated space.
• Next, have everyone share their ideas so you have one central repository of all the ideas.
• Go through each question and discuss any questions that arise.
• Vote on the top ideas to focus on.
• Turn the top ideas into action items and celebrate your successful ideation session.

Mind map brainstorming

Using the mind mapping brainstorming technique helps your team use the central focus of your project as a starting point, explore all the potential variables tied to that project, and build an understanding of how those variables relate to the main topic, as well as to one another.

• Add a central topic or question to the center of the mind map.
• Add branches and nodes based on secondary thoughts to the primary topic. 
• Keep adding branches and nodes based on additional ideas until you have a satisfactory number of related ideas.

Starbursting

The starbursting method involves asking a series of questions, typically using the 5 W's and 1 H (Who, What, Where, When, Why, and How) to explore the different aspects of the problem or topic. Starbursting is a divergent thinking approach focused on asking questions about the topic in order to generate a wide range of ideas.

How to run a starbursting exercise:

In Mural , Add six sticky notes around a central idea or problem and label them “Who,” “What,” “Where,” “When,” “Why,” and “How.” For each question, encourage participants to generate as many ideas as possible. Alternatively, you can conduct starbursting in Mural by creating a mind map.

Once the ideas have been generated, the facilitator can use other ideation techniques to further refine the ideas and identify potential solutions to the problem. Try clustering similar ideas together, categorizing the ideas into different groups with tags, or prioritizing the ideas based on their potential impact or feasibility.

The 'crazy eights' brainstorming technique is a great way to explore a wide range of ideas by encouraging quantity and time-boxing every exercise for efficiency. Brainstorm 8 different solutions in just 8 minutes. Once you’re ready, you can review the ideas and agree on the most effective solution.

How to do a crazy 8s brainstorm:

• Have each participant take a piece of paper (or use an online whiteboard ) and divide it into eight parts.
• Sketch or detail eight ideas, spending one minute for each panel.
• Have each participant share their own ideas.
• Vote on the top ideas and turn them into actionable next steps.

Round robin brainstorming

A round robin is a great way to encourage your team members to think critically about a problem or challenge, as well as build on one another's ideas. The format calls for dividing your team into small groups, and having each person pass their ideas along to the following teammate, who then offers counterpoints or further suggestions, helping identify potential weaknesses or spurring innovation within the session.

How to run a round robin:

• Set the brainstorming topic or problem you’re looking to solve.
• Divide your group or participants into four teams, or add more panels to accommodate more participants.
• Have each group or participant write down a proposal and move to the next panel
• Looking at what the other group or participant suggested, write down reasons why their proposal might fail then move to the next panel.
• Based on the proposal and weaknesses, have each participant or group craft a final concept using the weaknesses as feedback.

Looking for more instruction? Check out our complete guide on round robin brainstorming with a walkthrough, tips, and variations of the round robin method.

6-3-5 brainwriting

6-3-5 brainwriting is a group brainstorming method that involves creating a lot of ideas and building on the ideas of the other participants to give a total of 108 ideas in a short amount of time.

To run this exercise, you'll need 6 participants to create 3 ideas each within 5 minutes. Run this exercise for 6 rounds for a quick, half-hour brainstorming exercise.

• Have each participant select one panel and begin writing ideas related to the topic or problem statement on the first row of sticky notes.
• After five minutes, participants move to a different panel and do another round of ideation, using the previous row of ideas for inspiration.
• Run four more rounds of this exercise, or stop when you have enough ideas.
• Cluster and vote on the winning ideas with your team.

Brainwriting can be a marked improvment over more conventional brainstorming methods. In addition to reducing the pressure to openly share ideas that might be a bit "out there," brainwriting can help reduce participation inequity and prevent groupthink. Learn more in Mural's guide to brainwriting .

Reverse brainstorming

Reverse brainstorming involves looking at a problem from a different angle for generating ideas. Instead of asking, "What can we do to solve this problem?" the goal becomes, "How can we create this problem or make it worse?"

By focusing on the opposite of the problem or goal, team members can uncover new insights and approaches that they may not have considered otherwise. Once the "reverse" ideas have been generated, participants can then work to flip them around and find ways to turn them into positive solutions.

How to run a reverse brainstorm

• Draft a problem statement or starting topic for your team to brainstorm on
• Instead of posing the question: “How can we fix this?” ask “How can we make this problem worse?
• Participants will instead find more root causes driving the problem that you can start to address and dig deeper into
• Review and prioritize the ideas by severity or impact

Silent circuit

The silent circuit is a quiet brainstorming activity helps groups ideate across multiple topics while still being inclusive for quieter participants. This method is great for large groups, hybrid teams, and teams with introverts. This method is also great for getting different points of view.

How to run a silent circuit:

• Write "how might we" questions or a different prompt at the top of each brainstorming section.
• Set a timer and encourage participants to pan around the canvas and silently add as many ideas on sticky notes as they can under each prompt.
• When time is up, participants return to their original question and share all the ideas for each category.
• Review the questions and create action items for the best ideas.

Brain-netting

Brain-netting is a traditional brainstorming session conducted online. Online brainstorming isn’t a new concept, but recent shifts in remote work and collaboration tools have made this a much more common exercise. The main benefit of a brain-net is that it can be done asynchronously, meaning collaborators don’t have to. 

Brain-netting is more common among remote teams, where asynchronous communication and video calls are the norm. However, any team can leverage brain-netting to take a brainstorming activity online, generate innovative ideas, and get the creative juices flowing.

How to run a brain-netting exercise:

• Kickoff the session and warm-up your team with a virtual icebreaker that can be done asynchronously
• Add a problem statement or define a topic to ideate over
• Brainstorm together or set a deadline for when team members should have added their ideas to the brainstorming platform 
• Synthesize the ideas together, or summarize them and share the common themes
• Prioritize the ideas, pick a winner, and/or define next steps

Related: How to Facilitate a Brainstorming Session

Why brainstorming is essential for innovation

Brainstorming fosters creative thinking.

If you’re facing a difficult problem, brainstorming can help you to generate potential solutions that you might not have thought of otherwise. The free-flowing nature of brainstorming is meant to encourage exploration and a diversity of ideas — even those suggestions that seem tangential or unrelated at first may wind up forming the basis for effective solutions later on, or as inspiration for new products or features.

Brainstorming puts your best ideas in one place

Brainstorming helps you to organize your team's thoughts and feedback on any project. By structuring your brainstorming sessions so that everyone is engaged and all ideas are recorded, you can later organize your feedback by theme , using tools like tags for sticky notes and filtering. This can help you to better assess which ideas are worth pursuing and which ones are not, and begin to quickly and easily outline actionable next steps.

Types of brainstorming

There are three main types of brainstorming. Each approach has advantages and disadvantages, though hybrid brainstorming (enabled by platforms like Mural) mitigates the issues of by synchronous and async brainstorming.

Asynchronous brainstorming

Individuals are presented with a question or topic to consider on their own. Later, team members contribute their ideas to a shared document for further discussion and organization. The main advantage with asynchronous brainstorming is that it inherently avoids issues like groupthink since each individual completes the exercise independently.

Synchronous brainstorming

A team gathers together to brainstorm in a meeting, with everyone sharing ideas and grouping suggestions by theme. The main advantage of synchronous brainstorming is that it allows your team to build on one another's ideas in real time, making your session potentially more productive and speeding up innovation.

A hybrid approach to brainstorming combines elements of both asynchronous and synchronous ideation. By establishing a basis of psychological safety, as well as taking advantage of modern, cloud-based collaboration tools and features built to avoid groupthink, it's really possible to get the best of both worlds.

Tips for productive brainstorming

Establish an environment of psychological safety.

One of the most important elements in unlocking effective brainstorming is establishing a culture and environment of psychological safety . A brainstorming session should be one where everyone feels comfortable contributing without self-editing — in this phase, ideation shouldn't be interrupted by critiques or pushback. It's simply about collecting as many ideas and different perspectives as possible.

Psychological safety also means you are less likely to be impeded by groupthink — if the brainstorming session is characterized by a wide array of ideas and even constructive disagreement, you will have a much better basis upon which to formulate potential solutions than if everyone agrees or one line of thinking dominates your discussion.

Use private brainstorming within the context of a group meeting

To achieve this, you'll need to make people feel safe to share what they may think are outlandish or controversial ideas, which can be difficult to achieve. If you're not sure how best to begin, tools like Private Mode when using Mural can help you avoid groupthink by hiding the feedback that others are providing. Alternatively, when using a shared digital space like Mural, asynchronous brainstorming is also a viable solution — this allows people to reflect on their own, and bring their unique perspectives without outside influence into the meeting at a later date for discussion and organization.

Related: 7 Key Rules for Brainstorming

Follow-up after the brainstorming session

Brainstorming ideas is only the first step. After the brainstorming session is over, the team moves into the implementation phase. Be sure to define next steps and the roles of each team member so everyone understands the workflow and what’s expected of them. By following up, you ensure that the ideas you captured don’t get forgotten and a solution can be implemented.

Define a strategic goal for your brainstorming meeting

Once you've established the approach for your brainstorm, it helps to give greater context to your ideation by defining an overarching, strategic goal. Are you at the very outset of a problem with a lot of variables, and trying to better understand how they relate to one another? Is the purpose of your meeting to discover new ways to improve user experience for a given product or feature? Each use case requires a different basic framework for your brainstorming meeting.

Use these techniques to run better brainstorming sessions

Brainstorming is an essential part of the innovation process, but it can be difficult to come up with new ideas if you’re not sure where to start. The techniques we’ve outlined in this post should help you structure your brainstorming sessions in a way that makes them more effective and helps you produce actionable insights and takeaways.

If you want to make your brainstorming sessions even more productive, using a shared digital space like Mural not only unlocks visual thinking and online collaboration, but also builds in strategies to combat issues with groupthink and allows for hybrid brainstorming sessions that combine the best of asynchronous and real-time meetings.

Mural offers a host of brainstorming templates to kickstart more effective and meaningful (not to mention fun) sessions. Get started today with a Free Forever plan , and invite unlimited guests so you can build the next great idea together with your whole team.

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Are you an effective brainstormer? Does the process of brainstorming feel like an opportunity or more like a chore? Chances are if you don’t enjoy the process of brainstorming, you’ve probably been using the wrong brainstorming technique. 

That’s right—there are distinct brainstorming methods. 

Just as there are different learning styles and different workflow preferences, each of us has a method of brainstorming that works best for us. Whether or not you’re a veteran brainstormer, this article will help you unpack different brainstorming tools, learn the advantages and shortcomings of each, and select a technique for yourself and your team.

12 popular brainstorming methods

Need to take a step back? Learn how to set up a brainstorming session with your team.

Brainwriting

When brainwriting, each group member is told to anonymously write down several ideas on post-it notes or index cards. Keeping ideas anonymous serves two important purposes: First, it prevents idea anchoring and any personality bias that may arise. Second, it provides a way for more introverted teammates to still contribute to ideation. 

The result is a broader range of ideas that may not have surfaced if teammates were to brainstorm collectively. Ideas are then shared at random with the rest of the group, who offer feedback and critique each idea. As an alternative, ideas can also be collected and sorted by a team leader or management team. The overlying goal of brainwriting is to separate idea generation from discussion. 

5 Whys analysis

If you’ve ever been interrogated by a toddler, you know what the 5 Whys might sound like. You give an answer to a question, only for it to be followed by an increasingly urgent series of “Why? Why? Why? Why? Why?”

Truth be told, that toddler is onto something. Created by Taiichi Ohno, the 5 Whys analysis was made popular at Toyota as a standard process for root cause analysis—getting to the heart of a problem.

Less structured than other more traditional problem-solving methods, the 5 Whys is simply what it sounds like: asking why over and over to get to the root of an obstacle or setback. This technique encourages an open dialogue that can trigger new ideas about a problem, whether done individually or with a group. Each why piggybacks off the answer to the previous why.

Both flowcharts and  fishbone diagrams  can help you track your answers to the 5 Whys. 

Starbursting

Like a reporter trying to discover the pivotal information to a story, the starbursting method of brainstorming requires you to think about the who, what, where, when, why, and how for any new idea.

Place your main idea at the center of a star diagram, labeling each point of the star with those 5WH questions.

Next, develop a series of questions about your idea for each point. Starbursting is popular among brainstorming methods because of its exploratory nature: One question triggers another question, and before you know it, you have the beginnings of a solid strategy within the answers to those questions.

Mind mapping

Part of the challenge of brainstorming is trying to catch every idea swirling through the air. Mind maps are a creative, non-linear diagram used to capture that influx of ideas so you don’t miss anything. Start with a topic or question in the center of the mind map, and branch off to include every participant’s thoughts. Then use Collaborative AI to generate more in seconds for expanded ideas and an expanded mind.

To create your own mind map online, open the template below or browse through our gallery of additional mind map templates .

Rolestorming/figure storming

Sometimes it’s best to consider someone else’s point of view. Considering how someone else might approach a challenge is the central concept behind rolestorming. A related practice, figure storming asks you to put yourself in the shoes of a famous historical figure.

For example, a legal advocacy group might have teammates ask “How would Mahatma Gandhi solve this problem?” Rolestorming has even made its way into pop culture: Anyone who has ever purchased or even seen the popular rubber WWJD (what would Jesus do?) bracelets has witnessed rolestorming in daily life. Rolestorming or figure storming works best for teams who find themselves coming up with the same ideas for repeating projects. 

Gap filling

Gap filling, also known as gap analysis , requires you to identify your current state and your end goal and then find gaps between the two states. It asks the question, “How do we get from here to there?” Gap analysis is especially helpful when it comes to problem solving because it requires you to find workable solutions.

Flowcharts or mind maps can help you grid out your gap analysis. Mark the current state on one end and the ideal state on the other. Then team members will understand what they're working toward and start contributing ideas in the middle to fill the gap.

Brain-netting

Brain-netting has become a popular brainstorming technique in the modern workspace, where virtual collaboration and remote teams are much more common. Email communication can be effective but can take too much time and can be more formal than needed. 

With brain-netting, participants use virtual collaboration software to share ideas in real time and can save ideas to a cloud-based storage platform or within the collaboration software itself. The way teams go about virtual collaboration can vary—team leaders may ask a general question like “What do we want our customers to experience?” and have teammates contribute their responses, or teams may engage in other techniques mentioned in this piece including rolestorming, reverse brainstorming, and rapid ideation. 

Round robin brainstorming

To engage in this brainstorming technique, begin with having everyone sit in a circle. A team leader or facilitator will then pose a question or offer a request for ideas and have everyone in the circle contribute one by one. 

This strategy is great for middle- to large-sized teams who may have quieter team members or for any team with noticeable imbalance in creative contribution. The most important rule for this technique is to treat all ideas with equal weight—give each teammate the same time and attention as they share, and avoid developing any ideas until everyone has had a chance to contribute. If and when a team member says that “Person X already said my idea,” offer them time to come up with a new idea while completing the round robin. 

Rapid ideation

Operating within a time limitation can often produce higher quality work. Indeed, Parkinson’s Law teaches us that “work expands so as to fill the time available for its completion.” Rapid ideation uses this phenomenon to its advantage: By setting a time limit on team members to contribute as many ideas or solutions as possible, team managers can maximize productivity and results. 

Rapid ideation works well for a few different types of workers—for teams who dislike meetings, or who tend to get sidetracked, rapid ideation is a great way to approach the brainstorming stage of project execution. 

A helpful tip to remember: Get silly! Research shows that teams who share funny or embarrassing stories about themselves reported 26% more ideas shared across 15% more categories over teams who kept meetings more formal. Having the space to let down certain social barriers reduces overthinking and produces a greater flow of ideas.

Reverse brainstorming

Most brainstorming techniques ask participants to solve a problem. Reverse brainstorming has participants cause a problem. Rather than forming solutions to a problem, reverse brainstorming has a facilitator ask a question like “How can we cause this problem?” Responses are then recorded and used as springboards to ideate a solution by working through the responses backwards. 

Reverse brainstorming is a powerful way to open up new solutions to recurring problems: By challenging participants to work backwards, certain insights that may have been hard to imagine normally become crystal clear from a new perspective. 

Stepladder brainstorming

This interesting style of brainstorming was developed in 1992 and involves teammates sharing their ideas individually before being influenced by the group. 

The process starts with a facilitator posing a question or problem to the entire group and then having almost every group member exit the room, leaving two members present. These remaining two members share their ideas together while the rest of the team waits outside, until the facilitator directs an outside teammate to join the two inside. 

The third and new teammate then shares their idea first, followed by the other two teammates. A fourth group member then enters the room and shares his or her idea first, followed by the other teammates present. The process continues this way until all group members have joined the room and shared their ideas. 

Stepladder brainstorming is noted for solving the problem of groupthink by having participants share ideas individually and without influence from the group. It also allows the more shy group members to contribute without being intimidated by a room full of people.

SWOT analysis

SWOT analysis isn't exclusively a brainstorming technique: It's a strategic planning exercise that you can use to evaluate a product, project, person, or business. However, it may be valuable to focus your brainstorm with this mindset. SWOT stands for:

• Strengths:  How does the product, project, or business dominate and stand out from its competitors?
• Weaknesses:  What are the flaws that can hurt or put the product, project, or business in jeopardy?
• Opportunities:  What opportunities could the business capitalize on?
• Threats:  What are the possible downfalls lurking for the product, project, or business?

Spend some time in each category and add your teammates' thoughts onto a SWOT matrix.

Choose a brainstorm method and get started

Once you’ve selected your brainstorming technique or techniques, it’s time to get to work. Remember: The first rule of brainstorming is quantity over quality. Encouraging teammates to have the bravery to risk imperfection and contribute ideas is the best way to guide your team toward new ways to approach problems—and often leads to powerful insights. 

All these methods can be combined with others, giving you an endless arsenal of brainstorming techniques to continue ideating efficiently. 

See our 7 tips for starting a brainstorming meeting with your team.

About Lucidchart

Lucidchart, a cloud-based intelligent diagramming application, is a core component of Lucid Software's Visual Collaboration Suite. This intuitive, cloud-based solution empowers teams to collaborate in real-time to build flowcharts, mockups, UML diagrams, customer journey maps, and more. Lucidchart propels teams forward to build the future faster. Lucid is proud to serve top businesses around the world, including customers such as Google, GE, and NBC Universal, and 99% of the Fortune 500. Lucid partners with industry leaders, including Google, Atlassian, and Microsoft. Since its founding, Lucid has received numerous awards for its products, business, and workplace culture. For more information, visit lucidchart.com.

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29 brainstorming techniques: effective ways to spark creativity

Bright ideas don’t come as easily as flicking on a light. 

When it’s up to one individual to dream up a solution, it can be time-consuming and cause a lot of pressure. And when it comes to a group of people tasked with solving a problem, ideas might clash. Not to mention, everyone has a preferred method for their creative madness, making it difficult to get every team members’ wheels turning in the same direction.

That’s where brainstorming techniques come in. These techniques provide structure for brainstorming sessions, ignite creativity across all brainstormers, and ensure your ideas come to fruition. And luckily, there are lots of effective brainstorming techniques to choose from. 

What is brainstorming?

Here’s a general brainstorming definition: it’s an approach taken by an individual or team to solve a problem or generate new ideas for the improvement of a product, organization, or strategy. 

No matter your preferred method, most brainstorming techniques involve three steps:

Capture ideas

Discuss and critique the ideas

Choose which ideas to execute

Every brainstorming technique also involves the same ingredients. All you need is an individual or group of people, a problem to solve or an opportunity to address, and time. 

Brainstorming challenges

The golden rule of all brainstorming sessions is quantity over quality. The more ideas you have, the better your chances are that one will be worthy of execution. For these reasons, especially in group brainstorming sessions, be sure all team members check their criticisms at the door and let it be known that the only bad ideas are no ideas. 

Of course, not every brainstorming session will go off without a hitch. Some common brainstorming challenges include:

Unbalanced conversations, sometimes due to extroverts dominating discussions

The anchoring effect, meaning brainstormers cling to the first few ideas shared and don’t move on to others

Awkward silences, which often occur when participants are not prepared 

Perhaps you’ve experienced some of these uncomfortable brainstorming sessions yourself. Thankfully, there are plenty of tried-and-true, and also some unorthodox, brainstorming techniques and tools that tackle just these issues.

Analytic brainstorming techniques

When you need to look at an idea from all angles or vet a problem thoroughly, analytic brainstorming techniques might be worth implementing. Consider the following brainstorming methods and tools to generate and qualify ideas.

1. Starbursting  

A visual brainstorming technique, starbursting should be used once you or your team of brainstormers has homed in on a single idea. To begin starbursting, put an idea on the middle of a whiteboard and draw a six-point star around it. Each point will represent a question:

Consider every question and how it might pertain to your idea, such as, “Who will want to buy this product?” or, “When will we need to launch this program?” This will help you explore scenarios or roadblocks you hadn’t considered before.

Best for: large group brainstorms, vetting ideas thoroughly

2. The five whys, a.k.a. why analysis

Similar to starbursting, the five whys brainstorming technique helps you evaluate the strength of an idea. Challenge yourself to ask “why” questions about a topic or idea at least five times and consider what new problems you surface—and, importantly, note how you can address them. To help organize your thoughts, consider using a flowchart or fishbone diagram in hand with this brainstorming technique.

Best for: individual and group brainstorms, vetting ideas thoroughly

3. SWOT analysis

You might be familiar with SWOT analysis as it relates to strategic planning , and you might also be surprised to know that this concept can also be applied as a brainstorming exercise to help qualify an idea. The notion? Discuss the following aspects of your topic to determine whether it’s worth executing: 

Strengths : how does the idea dominate or stand out from competitors?

Weakness : are there any flaws in the idea that could jeopardize its execution?

Opportunities : what else can you capitalize on based on this idea?

Threats : what are potential downfalls that could arise if the idea is launched?

4. How Now Wow  

The How Now Wow brainstorming technique is all about categorizing ideas based on how unique they are and how easy they are to implement. Once you’ve collected several ideas, either individually or from team members, talk through where they fall in the How Now Wow spectrum:

How ideas are ideas that are original but not executable. 

Now ideas are unoriginal ideas that are easily executable.

Wow ideas are never-been-pitched before ideas that are also easy to implement.

Obviously, you want as many “Wow” ideas as possible since these are executable but also because they might set you apart from competitors or dispel monotony in a company. To help organize your ideas, consider using a matrix of four squares with difficulty weighted on the Y-axis and innovation on the X-axis. 

Best for: individual and group brainstorms, homing in on an executable solution

5. Drivers analysis

Just as the name implies, driver analysis is a brainstorming technique that analyzes the drivers or “causes” of a problem. To use this brainstorming technique, simply keep asking yourself or your team of brainstormers: “What’s driving [insert problem]?” and then, “What’s driving [insert answer to the previous question]?” Similar to why analysis, the deeper you dig into a problem, the more well-vetted it will be and the more confident you will be in executing solutions for those problems. 

6. Mind mapping

Another visual brainstorming technique, mind mapping addresses the anchoring effect—a common brainstorming challenge where brainstormers fixate on the first ideas instead of coming up with new ones. Mind mapping does this by using the first idea to inspire other ideas. 

You’ll need a large piece of paper or whiteboard to do this. Begin by writing down a topic and then drawing lines connecting tangential ideas to it. This essentially helps you paint a picture of your topic at hand and what might impact its execution or even expedite it.

Best for: individual and group brainstorms, visual thinkers

7. Gap filling, a.k.a. gap analysis

When you’re struggling with how to execute an idea, that’s where gap filling comes in—to address the obstacles standing in your way. Begin by starting with a statement of where you are and then a statement of where you want to be. For example, “Our company creates smart watches; we want to expand our portfolio to also include fitness trackers.”

It’s worth writing these out on a large piece of paper or a whiteboard for all of your brainstormers to see, perhaps using a flowchart or mind map to do so. Then, list obstacles that are preventing you from getting where you want to be and work through solutions for each of them. By the end of your brainstorming session, you should have a clearer plan of how to get where you want to be. 

Best for: individual and group brainstorms, visual thinkers, honing in on an executable solution

Quiet async brainstorming techniques

Best for businesses that are crunched for time or teams with more introverted individuals, these quiet brainstorming techniques allow brainstormers to contribute ideas on their own time and often anonymously. Look to the following methods to get your creative juices flowing, especially for remote teams with frequent virtual meetings .   

8. Brainwriting, a.k.a. slip writing

A nonverbal and in-person brainstorming technique, brainwriting addresses the brainstorming challenge of unbalanced conversations head-on. That’s because it requires participation and teamwork from every brainstormer, beginning with each person writing down three ideas relating to a topic on three separate slips of paper. Then everyone passes their ideas to the right or left and their neighbor builds on those ideas, adding bullet points and considerations. 

The slips of paper continue to be passed around the table until they’ve made it all the way around. Then, the brainstorm facilitator can digest all of the ideas themselves, or the brainstormers can discuss each idea out loud and determine what’s worth pursuing. Pro tip: limit this brainstorming technique to no more than 10 people to not be overwhelmed with ideas or time constraints.

Best for: group brainstorms and introverted team members

9. Collaborative brainwriting

You can think of collaborative brainwriting like a herd of cows grazing in a field, except it’s brainstormers grazing on ideas throughout a week, anonymously jotting down thoughts or ideas. Oftentimes a brainstorming facilitator will kick off this technique by posting a large piece of paper, sticky notes, or sharing a cloud-based document to jot down a few brainstorming ideas.

From there, team members can build off of those ideas on their own time and anonymously provide feedback. Be sure to set a clear deadline of when the brainstorming session closes to ensure all brainstormers have an opportunity to chime in.

Best for: individual brainstorming 

10. Brain-netting, a.k.a. online brainstorming

Great for remote teams, brain-netting is essentially a place for a team to brain dump their own ideas, whether that’s a Slack channel, Google Doc, or your project management tool . 

The notion is that brainstormers can add ideas whenever inspiration strikes and that the list will be ever-evolving. Of course, the team leader might want to inform their team of brainstormers of any important dates or deadlines when they need solutions to a problem. They may also want to hold a meeting to discuss the ideas. All brainstormers’ identities can be left anonymous even in the meeting. 

Best for: group brainstorms, introverted team members, remote teams

11. SCAMPER  

The SCAMPER brainstorming technique encourages brainstormers to look at an idea from different angles and it uses its acronym to inspire each lens: 

Substitute : consider what would happen if you swapped one facet of a solution for another.

Combine : consider what would happen if you combined one facet of a solution with another.

Adapt : consider how you could adapt an idea or solution in a new context.

Modify : consider how you can modify an idea to make it higher impact.

Put to another use : consider how else you could leverage your idea.

Eliminate : consider what you could remove from the idea or solution so that it’s simplified.

Reverse effective : finally, consider how you could reorganize an idea to make it most effective . 

When used in a group brainstorming session, you might want to use templates to track responses or pair the SCAMPER method with a brainwriting session to encourage all brainstormers to evaluate ideas from every angle. 

12. Lightning Decision Jam

Known as LDJ for short, the Lightning Decision Jam brainstorming technique requires 40 minutes to one hour to complete. What will you have by the end? Tangible results and buy-in from an entire team of brainstormers. 

This brainstorming technique is great for remote team alignment . It all begins with writing down positives about a topic or what’s working regarding the topic, then writing down negatives and identifying what needs to be addressed most urgently. This is followed by a few minutes of reframing problems as questions, then brainstorming solutions for those problems. 

Finally, your team uses a matrix to determine how high impact and how high effort your solutions are to decide which ideas are worth pursuing. For a more robust explanation of LDJ, watch this video by design agency AJ&Smart, which created the brainstorming technique. 

Best for: group brainstorms, remote workforces, tight deadlines, honing in on an executable solution

13. The idea napkin

Similar to LDJ, the idea napkin is essentially a brainstorming template that distills a broad topic into tangible solutions. How it works: Every brainstormer has an “idea napkin” that they commit one idea to, beginning by writing down their idea, as well as an elevator pitch for it. 

The idea napkin also includes a column for who the idea is targeting—meaning who you’re solving a problem for (customers, teammates, etc.)—and a column noting what problems your idea addresses. Brainstormers can fill out their napkins ahead of or during a brainstorming session, each is expected to present or share them. The final ideas will be placed on an impact and effort matrix to determine which are worth pursuing. 

Best for: group brainstorms, honing in on an executable solution

Roleplaying brainstorm techniques

Drama lovers rejoice! These roleplay brainstorming techniques encourage brainstormers to figuratively walk in someone else’s shoes or put on their hat—or six hats, in one instance—to address a problem or dream up ideas from a new perspective. An added benefit of this? When brainstormers take on a personality that’s not their own, it lowers inhibitions since it’s technically not their point of view being brought to the table.

14. Six thinking hats

This brainstorming technique requires a minimum of six brainstormers to wear imaginary hats—hence the name— that require them to look solely at an idea from one specific angle. For instance, one brainstormer might be wearing an impact hat and only concern themselves with the impact of an idea and another might be wearing a constraints hat and only looking at the constraints of an idea. 

You can pick and choose which angles are most important to your organization. And by the end of the group discussion, the whole brainstorming group should be able to hang their hats feeling confident about the ideas you’ll pursue.

Best for: group brainstorms (six or more people), introverted team members, vetting ideas thoroughly

15. Figure storming

Ever heard the phrase, “What would Abe do?” That’s pretty much the premise of this brainstorming technique in that brainstormers take on the identity of a famous or prominent figure, whether that’s a leader or celebrity, and put themselves in their brain space and how they’d approach an idea. 

This helps teams look at a topic through a different lens and, in the case of group brainstorms, alleviates any nervousness that brainstormers will put out bad ideas. Because they’re not putting out their ideas—they’re sharing someone else’s. So go on and give yourself a new job title for the day.

Best for: individual and group brainstorms, extroverted team members

16. Role storming  

Role storming is similar to figure storming in that brainstormers take on different personalities to dream up ideas, but with one dramatic twist—brainstormers act out those ideas. 

Generally, brainstormers are asked to take on the role of an average person who will be affected by the idea or solution in question, whether that’s an employee, client, or another party, and they act out a scenario that could stem from the idea to help them decipher what problems might arise from it. Consider this brainstorming technique for more extroverted teams. 

Best for: group brainstorms, extroverted team members

17. Reverse brainstorming

Reverse brainstorming is grounded in a little bit of chaos. It encourages brainstormers to play the role of disruptors by brainstorming problems first and then solutions. To kick off the brainstorming questions, a team leader will usually ask, “How do we cause [insert problem]?”

Once your team has listed the causes, they’ll have a new and different perspective for coming up with solutions to problems. 

Best for: group brainstorms, idea generation, problem-solving

18. Reverse thinking

Reverse thinking is a bit of a mashup of the figure storming and six thinking hats brainstorming techniques. It encourages brainstormers to merely ask themselves, “What would someone else do in this situation?” Then, it prompts them to think through why that person’s solution would work or not and if your current solution is more effective. 

Best for: group brainstorms, extroverted team members, vetting ideas thoroughly

Group brainstorm techniques

Most brainstorming techniques can be applied to groups of brainstormers, but these specific brainstorming techniques promote (and some even require) participation from everyone. When facilitated well, group brainstorming techniques not only yield more ideas but they can also:

Boost team morale through lighthearted brainstorming games and by involving participation in every step of the brainstorming process

Promote creative thinking, especially when brainstormers are given time to prepare their ideas and  a structured approach to solve problems

Bring more diverse ideas together, thanks to the unique perspective each brainstormer has and their individual strengths

All this to say, group brainstorming techniques are all about putting people’s heads together. 

19. Eidetic image method

The eidetic image method is grounded in setting intentions, and it begins with group members all closing their eyes to do just that. For example, if a company is setting out to design a new smartwatch, the brainstorming facilitator would encourage all brainstormers to close their eyes and quietly meditate on what smartwatches currently look like. 

Then the group would discuss and close their eyes once more and quietly imagine new features to add to the device. They’d all open their eyes and discuss again, essentially layering on the possibilities for enhancing a product. This brainstorming technique is ideal for revamping or building on an existing product or solution. 

Best for: visual thinkers, creating an idea anew

20. Rapid ideation

Great for teams that get sidetracked or have difficulty staying focused in meetings, the rapid ideation brainstorming technique encourages brainstormers to race against a clock and come up with as many ideas as possible—and importantly, not take themselves too seriously. This can be done by having brainstormers shout out ideas to a facilitator or write them on a piece of paper. You might find that some of the same ideas keep popping up, which likely means those are worth pursuing. 

Best for: extroverted team members, tight deadlines

21. Round-robin brainstorming

Participation is required for the round-robin brainstorming technique. Everyone must contribute at least one idea before the entire group can give feedback or share a second idea.

Given the requirement that everyone must share an idea, it’s best to allow brainstormers time to prepare ideas before each round-robin brainstorming session. This brainstorming technique is great for introverted team members and also for larger groups to ensure everyone can contribute. Moreover, the round-robin brainstorming technique also promotes the notion that the only bad idea is no idea. 

Best for: introverted team members and developing a surplus of ideas

22. Step-ladder brainstorming

Ideal for medium-sized groups of five to 15 people, the step-ladder brainstorming technique prevents ideas from being influenced by the loudest brainstormers of a group. 

Here’s how it works: A brainstorming facilitator introduces a topic to their group of brainstormers and then dismisses all but two brainstormers from the room. The two brainstormers left in the room discuss their ideas for a few minutes and then one brainstormer is welcomed back into the room and shares their ideas before the original two brainstormers divulge their ideas. 

Brainstormers are added back into the room one by one, with each new brainstormer sharing their ideas before the rest of the group divulges theirs, and so forth. Once the entire brainstorming group is back in the room, it’s time to discuss the ideas they’ve built together, step by step. 

Best for: introverted team members, vetting ideas thoroughly, honing in on an executable solution

23. Charrette

You might want to book a few rooms for this one. The charette brainstorming technique helps break up a problem into smaller chunks and also breaks up your brainstormers into separate teams to address them. 

For instance, you might reserve three rooms, write a topic or problem on a whiteboard, and have three sets of brainstormers walk into those rooms to jot down their ideas. Then, the sets of brainstormers rotate rooms and build off of the ideas of the group that was there before them. Consider it effective teamwork at its best.

Best for: vetting ideas thoroughly, honing in on an executable solution

More brainstorming techniques

For more unconventional approaches to get your individual or your team’s wheels turning, consider adding some of these brainstorming techniques to your arsenal of ways to ideate. 

24. ‘What if’ brainstorming

A very off-the-cuff brainstorming technique, “what if” brainstorming is as simple as throwing out as many “what if” questions surrounding a topic as possible, similar to the rapid ideation brainstorming technique. For instance, “what if this problem occurred in a different country,” or, “what if this problem occurred in the 1800s?” 

Walking through the scenarios might help spur new obstacles pertaining to your problem. Essentially, the “what if” brainstorming technique helps your team evaluate all the possibilities.

Best for: individual and group brainstorms, creating an idea anew, vetting ideas thoroughly

25. Change of scenery  

It’s no secret that physical surroundings can impact your team workflow and even creativity. When your brainstorming session is in a rut, consider relocating to another location, perhaps a park, a walking meeting, or even a coffee shop.

Being in a new setting might spur new ideas and even loosen up your brainstormers so that they’re more open to sharing ideas and helping you achieve quantity over quality.  

Best for: individual and group brainstorms, creating an idea anew

26. Random word picker

As this name implies, this brainstorming technique is a little random. Begin by tossing words into a hat and then pull them out and discuss how they relate to your brainstorming topic at hand. You may want to use a template to keep track of your thoughts and any new ideas the word association sparks.

To further organize your thoughts, consider pairing this brainstorming technique with word banking, meaning categorizing random words together and then drawing associations between their category and the brainstorming topic. 

Best for: group brainstorms, creating an idea anew

27. Storyboarding

Turns out, storyboarding isn’t only for television and film. You can also apply this as a brainstorming technique, meaning illustrating or drawing a problem and possible solutions. Consider it another way to put yourself in someone else’s shoes, especially those your solution impacts. It’s also a means to visualize any roadblocks you might experience when executing a solution. 

Best for: individual or group brainstorms, problem-solving, vetting ideas thoroughly

28. Wishing

Wishing is as simple as it sounds: You just wish for the solution you want to build. Think: “I wish our company was carbon neutral,” and then think of the possible ways in which you could achieve this, as well as areas that might be impossible to address for this. This will help uncover obstacles you might face and maybe even shed light on what you’re capable of overcoming. 

Best for: individual or group brainstorms, creating an idea anew

29. Crazy eights

A short and fun brainstorming technique, crazy eights delivers on quantity by encouraging brainstormers to think quickly using a template that has eight boxes and only eight minutes on the clock to sketch out eight ideas. Once the timer stops, the group discusses their ideas. 

For a larger group, consider having each brainstormer narrow in on only three ideas and give them a longer time limit of six minutes to sketch them out in more detail.

Best for: group brainstorms, visual thinkers, developing a surplus of ideas

8 tips for a productive brainstorming session

No matter which brainstorming technique is right for you and your team, consider the following best practices to brainstorm most effectively . Of course, it all begins with the brainstorming facilitator and how they set the tone for the session.

1. Allow time to prep 

A brainstorming facilitator isn’t the only one in a brainstorming session who needs time to prepare for a meeting . They also should give brainstormers some context ahead of the session, such as in the form of a meeting agenda , to get in the correct mindset for the brainstorming session. 

At least one day is standard but as little as two to 10 minutes is useful. Moreover, brainstorming facilitators should also have a few ideas in their back pocket for any creative ruts that might creep in.

2. Set a clear intention

The more context you can provide brainstormers from the get-go, the more fruitful ideas they can produce. For instance, clearly spell out what types of ideas you’re looking for. Whether it’s quickly executable ones or ones that are entirely pathbreaking, identify specific targets to address. 

Additionally, be sure to let brainstormers know of any constraints you or your organization is operating under, including project timelines or budgets, so they’re generating executable ideas.

3. Invite new teammates and ideas

When the same people brainstorm together over and over, they can tend to produce the same ideas over and over. For this reason, consider introducing new people to your brainstorming session to shake up the usual and lend a fresh perspective—and hopefully fresh ideas—to your brainstorming topics. Invitees can be colleagues from different departments, customers or clients for a focus group, or an outside consultant.

4. Promote inclusivity

Every brainstorming session should be considered a safe space to share ideas—even unconventional ones. Remember, the only bad ideas are no ideas, and any idea shared shouldn’t be shot down or judged. In addition, the brainstorm facilitator should ensure every brainstormer is treated equally and given the same amount of time to talk. This might mean setting a timer for each brainstormer to talk and acknowledging those who are dominating conversations. Likewise, every brainstormer should be open and curious to ideas.

5. Think out of the box

Creative thinking begins with not taking ourselves too seriously. Just as you encourage inclusivity, encourage imperfections and out-of-the-box thinking, too. This could include anything from fun team building games to unique icebreaker questions. Hey, even a bevy of silly ideas to build off of is better than no ideas at all. Brainstorming techniques like wishing can encourage team members to open up.

6. Amplify creativity with music

Similar to how a change of scenery can inspire new ideas, even a little background music can promote creativity. Consider putting some on for your brainstorming session, and for the best results ensure it’s:

Instrumental

In a major key

On a fixed tempo and volume

7. Mix and match brainstorming techniques

Just as brainstorming techniques aren’t necessarily one-size-fits-all, they also aren’t all one-type-fits-every-session. Be prepared to pivot your brainstorming technique depending on what your group of brainstormers is most receptive to and also how many ideas you're juggling. 

8. Execute your ideas 

Coming up with bright ideas is great. But they’re pretty useless unless you effectively execute them. While some brainstorming techniques build the execution process into them, others might require you to follow up with brainstormers using project templates to map out a plan using creative solutions. 

Brainstorming is about quantity over quality

When done right, a brainstorming session shouldn’t feel like a chore but rather an opportunity to create something together, especially when your brainstorming technique supports different styles of thinking and expression. 

And whether you're operating as an individual or on a team, there’s something uniquely satisfying about seeing your ideas come to fruition. Get the creative ideas flowing, then customize your workflow management tool to turn those ideas into action. 

Related resources

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Listening to understand: How to practice active listening (with examples)

Unmasking impostor syndrome: 15 ways to overcome it at work

43 brainstorming techniques and games for creating new ideas

Finding new and innovative ideas is a vital part of the growth and success of any team or organization . While brainstorming techniques are rightly perceived as creative and exciting , it’s important to find a framework and idea-generation process that empowers your group to generate meaningful results. 

Innovation is important for many businesses, but what brainstorming activities might you use to help make true innovation a reality? Find out in this collection of effective brainstorming techniques!

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In this post, we’ll explore a host of effective brainstorming techniques in categories such as creative exercises and visual idea generation games, all of which can be used to help your group brainstorm be more effective and gratifying for all involved.

We’ll also explore talk about the benefits of group ideation and share some examples of brainstorming sessions that utilize these methods. Let’s get started! 

What are brainstorming techniques?

Brainstorming is a process of enabling people to think freely and creatively when trying to come up with ideas, solutions, or sharing knowledge.

Brainstorming techniques are proven activities and frameworks for coming up with lots of ideas quickly. They’ll often include steps to shift perspective, facilitate team collaboration and refine initial ideas into something even better.

Some examples of brainstorming activities include classic mind mapping and brain writing where you quickly try to generate as many ideas as possible.

Teams often use these techniques to generate creative ideas to tough problems and to explore possible solutions . They can also be used as part of more in-depth brainstorming workshops where team members then refine and choose ideas to put into action.

Some of the core concepts of brainstorming include: reserving judgment, go for quality over quantity, listen to all ideas, and think outside of the box in the pursuit of radical new ideas and creative solutions. Bring these concepts and a proven technique to your session and you’re already on the route to success!

If you’re finding your team with a problem they don’t know how to solve, a technique that encourages creative thinking might be just the ticket! Use these activities as part of a complete workshop process to refine those ideas into something actionable.

In SessionLab, it’s quick an easy to create an effective agenda for a brainstorming workshop in minutes. Drag and drop blocks in the session planner to create your structure. Add timing for each item to ensure you stay on time. Color-code your blocks to get an instant sense of your learning flow.

Core group brainstorming techniques

Brainstorming has been around as long as individuals and teams have tried to find creative and innovative solutions, or come up with new ideas or products. Whether a group is ideating on how to solve an organizational problem or generate ideas for new features or initiatives, getting people together to quickly ideate and come up with something new is time well spent.

In this section, we’ll first explore some of the core techniques that have been used time and again to create meaningful results and great ideas.

Popcorn Brainstorming

One of the classic brainstorming techniques, chances are you’ve done a popcorn brainstorm already. It’s been used by everyone from school teachers to CEOs to generate ideas and create energy around new initiatives – much like the popping of corn in a microwave!

Start by posing a question or problem statement and invite participants to take a minutes silence to think on it. Once the minute is up, start a timer and invite everyone to contribute ideas out-loud and build on each other’s ideas too. Have a single person take notes and encourage quality over quantity: no evaluation, no criticism or discussion yet – just rapid ideation!

Brainstorming – Popcorn and Round Robin   #idea generation   #brainstorming   Simple, classic brainstorming with two variants. Popcorn – where participants speak out-loud and Round Robin – where participants work in silence and pass their ideas to the next person in turn. 

Round-Robin Brainstorming

A tried and tested idea generation technique, Round-Robin Brainstorming provides a little more structure and ensures everyone in a group can contribute to a brainstorm by ensuring the discussion isn’t dominated by the loudest voices. 

In this group method, seat everyone in a circle and hand them an index card. In silence, everyone writes an idea on their index card before passing it to the person to their left. Each participant then writes an idea based on their neighbour’s card and passes that along.

The result is a more relaxed session that encourages a combination of idea development and co-creation while ensuring everyone is heard. Perfect for teams with big personalities!

SWOT analysis

A SWOT analysis (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats) is a tried and tested technique that teams often using when planning new initiatives or solving problems. It also happens to be a great tool for generating new ideas while also taking into account potential problems and opportunities.

The act of brainstorming around your weaknesses or threats can result in innovative solutions and ideas you might not have otherwise come up with. Try using each point of the process as a jumping off point for ideation or explore a topic from each of the different angles for best results.

SWOT Analysis   #project planning   #strategic planning   #environmental analysis   #planning   #issue analysis   #online   #remote-friendly   A SWOT Analysis is used in project planning, strategic planning and other processes where agreement is needed about the current situation of a project, team, department or organization. It stands for Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats.

Brainwriting

No single person is as smart or as creative as a group. With the brain writing technique, tap into the ideas and approaches of multiple collaborators and co-create effectively.

Start by writing down the topic or area for which you’ll be generating ideas. Have all team members silently write down an idea related to the topic on a card and then, pass that idea to the person to their right. The receiving player reads the card and then adds an idea inspired by the original OR enhances the original idea before passing the card along.

By asking participants to grow and improve on one another’s ideas, Brain writing helps a group ideate effectively and come up with better ideas. You can even bring this to an online brainstorming session by using an online whiteboard and have participants pass post-its to the working spaces of their partners.

Brainwriting   #gamestorming   #idea generation   Some of the best ideas are compilations from multiple contributors. Brainwriting is a simple way to generate ideas, share them, and subsequently build on them within a group. Access to multiple hands, eyes, and minds can yield the most interesting results.

Question storming

Sometimes, shifting perspective and starting from a different angle can generate the best ideas. Q-Storming, or question storming invites participants to brainstorm questions, rather than solutions.

After rounds of gathering qualifying data and assumptions, ask your group to think of all those questions that they still have which might help the team think the matter through. This approach can be really useful at finding ideas your team might not have considered and ensuring that what you come up with is truly going to solve the problem at hand.

Walking Brainstorm

Brainstorming methods come in many forms – you might have a quick-fire session that encourages excitement and verbal exchanges. Alternatively, you might find your group will create better ideas by working together in a more relaxed, introvert-friendly manner.

Walking Brainstorm is designed to help large groups work on idea generation dynamically but without creating scenarios where only the loudest participants are heard. 

Create a space where different topics or questions are spread on posters/post-its around a room or virtual space. Silently and individually, each participant is encouraged to walk around and visit each question/topic in turn and add ideas to each. By moving around and working individually, this method helps create a more reflective, dynamic ideation session and can also help ensure group-think doesn’t set in! 

Walking Brainstorm   #brainstorming   #idea generation   #remote-friendly   This introvert-friendly brainstorming technique helps groups of any size to generate and build on each other’s ideas in a silent but dynamic setting. As the participants keep moving, the exercise is ideal to kick-off a full day workshop or re-energize the group after lunch.

For those who prefer a more organized approach to idea generation, mind mapping is a great activity for creating ideas quickly and effectively. 

Begin by writing the key topic in the center of a piece of paper or in an online whiteboard. Invite participants to brainstorm related topics and ideas by adding branches to the central idea and create new nodes or elements. As a facilitator, you’ll want to group ideas by color and also amend the thickness of the branches to show the strength of various ideas and concepts. 

When you’re done mind mapping, the result will be a diagram that visually represents your ideas and makes it clear how the various parts interrelate – a great resource for idea development or for future sessions!

Mind map   #idea generation   #concepts   #create   #issue analysis   #design   A mind map is a diagram used to represent a number of ideas or things. Mind maps are methods for analyzing information and relationships.

Brain Netting

The concept of brain netting is to not only take your brainstorming online, but to use online tools and virtual spaces to make the session a truly engaging experience. 

The key is to use an online tool that the group is familiar with, can co-create in easily and which works both synchronously or asynchronously. Using an online whiteboard or shared document for brain netting means participants can contribute in both a live online workshop as well as in their own time. This is a unique benefit of online brainstorming, and it’s one we’d recommend taking advantage of with your team!

We’d especially recommend using an online tool that supports easy commenting, images, videos and links – encourage your group to use whatever assets best communicate their ideas!

Six Thinking Hats

Exploring a problem or idea from multiple perspectives is a great way to generate new ideas and inform your brainstorming process. In this brainstorming activity, start by explaining the six different hats and that at various points, each person will wear the different hats to explore your chosen topic. For example, the green hat is for creative thinking while the white hat is all about information and facts.

Invite the group to start with the blue hat, which is to control the process and then move between hats to explore, define, ideate, identify risk and gather information around a topic in a sequence. By asking the group to all wear the same hat at the same time, you can ensure your brainstorm moves forward while also ensure all perspectives are explored.

The Six Thinking Hats   #creative thinking   #meeting facilitation   #problem solving   #issue resolution   #idea generation   #conflict resolution   The Six Thinking Hats are used by individuals and groups to separate out conflicting styles of thinking. They enable and encourage a group of people to think constructively together in exploring and implementing change, rather than using argument to fight over who is right and who is wrong.

Rapid writing

Different teams and workshops need different approaches to generating fresh ideas. While a carefully structured approach can be effective, using quick-fire brainstorming techniques like Rapid Writing can help create a sense of energy, urgency, and get heaps of ideas out quickly.

For this method of brainstorming, start by setting a timer and encouraging your participants to get as many ideas out as possible within that time limit. Remember that at this stage in the idea generation process, there is no such thing as a bad idea and by quickly ideating without being critical, your group can be creative without prematurely shutting down possible ideas. Be sure to collect all the ideas and share them without judgment at the end, whether you’re brainstorming online or in person!

Lotus Blossom

Some of the most effective techniques are those that encourage free-thinking and rapid ideation while also having some rules that can keep things structured. Lotus Blossom combines these concepts while also creating a great visual representation of your brainstorming activity. 

Lotus Blossom helps facilitate idea generation by working out from a central concept and adding eight additional themes or ideas inspired by the first on sticky notes. Once you have those eight ideas, you then invite participants to take each of those and add another eight and effectively blossom them around the original. By clustering ideas in this way, this ideation method also creates a visual resource you can come back to later and follow the brainstorming process from start to finish.

Lotus blossom   #concepts   #create   #design   #idea generation   The lotus blossom method is a creativity exercise. It is a framework for idea generation, starting from one central theme. Eight conceptual themes grow out from the main theme and each of them are used as central theme to generate 8 more themes. Explore!

Starbursting

Complete freedom without an ideation framework isn’t always the best way to find and develop ideas. Structured techniques like Starbursting can help guide a team through more effective idea generation and ensure all key elements are considered at an early stage.

To begin, create a six-pointed star on a large piece of paper or online whiteboard. At the tip of each point of the star, write down the words Who, What, Why, Where, When and How. Invite the group to brainstorm ideas and questions related to each of these points in turn.

At this stage, the group only needs to brainstorm questions in each of these sections, leaving answers until later, though creating follow-up questions can also be helpful in effectively ideating on your central concept or problem.

When ideating on solutions to problems, it’s very easy to come to the table with underlying assumptions that can affect the course of the idea generation process. You can avoid this potential pitfall by using The 5 Whys to go further and deeper in a very simple, group-friendly manner.

Kick-off by working as a group to create a problem statement that you’ll work on solving. Once you have a concise statement, ask the group why you have this problem and discuss the answer. After working together to form a cohesive answer, ask the group why you have the problem again. By repeating the process, you and your team can dig deeper and find the root cause of the issue and move past the first, most obvious ideas.

The 5 Whys   #hyperisland   #innovation   This simple and powerful method is useful for getting to the core of a problem or challenge. As the title suggests, the group defines a problems, then asks the question “why” five times, often using the resulting explanation as a starting point for creative problem solving.

Creative brainstorming techniques 

All brainstorming is creative. Generating ideas and finding solutions often asks groups and teams to find new ways of looking at things but in this next section, we’ll look at techniques that aim to approach the ideation process from a unique or especially creative starting point.

If you’re finding your typical exercises aren’t yielding results or want to try something new, creative games like those below can create space for innovation. Let’s dig in!

Imagie-ination

Words are often our primary tool when it comes to starting a brainstorm or kicking off an idea generation workshop. While these kinds of techniques are tried and tested, it can also be useful to try something different that can unlock your team’s creativity. 

With Imagie-ination, you’ll use images to help your group generate ideas that go beyond the norm. First, collect an assortment of images for your brainstorm and write down a simple description of the topic you want to generate new ideas around. Have each participant select an image and then come up with as many ideas as they can for how the image relates to the topic. 

After the first round, you’ll then cluster ideas together and find an image and title to best illustrate those clusters. This kind of clustering and titling can help refine the ideas your team has generated and move them towards action – a great outcome for any brainstorming session!

Imagie-ination   #idea generation   #gamestorming   Images have the ability to spark insights and to create new associations and possible connections. That is why pictures help generate new ideas, which is exactly the point of this exercise.

Bad idea brainstorming

Idea generation is at its best when groups are encouraged to add their ideas without being self critical or overthinking. Often, individuals involved in ideation can put pressure on themselves to offer only great ideas and so don’t contribute everything that comes to their minds.

Use this brainstorming technique to help free your group’s creativity and encourage them to come up with the absolute worst ideas they can in relation to a central topic or problem. Like reverse brainstorming, this brainstorming technique is a great way to find alternative routes to more creative ideas. Just be sure to use a swot analysis to figure out what should make it into reality!

Bad Idea Brainstorm   #brainstorming   #creative thinking   #idea generation   Name all the bad ideas to make room for good ones. Coming up with the perfect solution right off the bat can feel paralyzing. So instead of trying to find the right answer, get unstuck by listing all the wrong ones.

Brainstorm questions instead of solutions

Our first instinct when it comes to problem-solving can often be to jump straight to giving answers and finding solutions. Though this can be effective, when it comes to generating creative ideas, a different tact can be more effective. 

With this reverse brainstorming game, challenge participants to offer questions instead of solutions so they can respond to a central concept creatively and from a new angle. If you’re finding your group can become blocked when generating ideas, it might be that your existing questions or frameworks aren’t sufficient. By taking a new ideation approach, you can unblock your team!

Brainstorm questions instead of solutions   #questions and answers   #brainstorming   When we are given a problem our reflex is to find answers. But it can be difficult to leave the comfort zone and to come up with creative answers. This exercise will encourage to think out of the box.

Stakeholder Round Robin Brainstorm

Bringing together groups of different stakeholders with their own areas of expertise is a great idea whether you’re brainstorming or finding solutions. That said, it’s worth noting that in these kinds of mixed groups, participants will be coming from different places and have different priorities and approaches to idea generation. 

Start by creating a flipchart or whiteboard space for each stakeholder’s perspective and writing this at the top. Give each stakeholder two minutes to brainstorm on the central idea from their perspective and add those to their flipchart before then inviting each participant to move to the next one and brainstorm from this different perspective. By using this round-robin brainstorming exercise, you can help the group understand the perspectives and insights each member brings to the table while also generating fresh ideas as a result!  

Backcasting

A simple change in perspective can have a massive impact on how your team approaches solving a problem. Backcasting is a simple but effective brainstorming exercise where a team is invited to work backwards from an ideal future state in order to come up with concrete actions they can take today.

Start by listing your long term goals in a time frame of 1-20 years. Then work backwards from that state to today, listing every action necessary to achieve that goal state. Collect insights on what difficulties might come up, what steps your team needs to take and what resources you might need in order to brainstorm effectively and find a new way to reach your team’s long term goals!

Backcasting   #define intentions   #create   #design   #action   Backcasting is a method for planning the actions necessary to reach desired future goals. This method is often applied in a workshop format with stakeholders participating. To be used when a future goal (even if it is vague) has been identified.

Walking Questions

A brainstorming technique with a What if learning style, Walking Questions is a great way of encouraging group members to share knowledge, ask questions to personal problems, and explore a topic dynamically. 

Best used at the end of a training session or workshop, each participant writes a question they have on the top of a sheet of paper then hands it to the person to their right. The person receiving the paper then writes any ideas or answers they have underneath and passes it to the next person.

By the end, the original piece of paper will be returned to the owner filled with ideas and answers from the entire group. It’s a great way of generating ideas from a group quickly and efficiently and of utilizing everyone’s expertise in a structured way. Give it a go! 

Walking questions   #what if learning style   #idea generation   #learning   This is a great facilitation technique to answer open questions of trainees with a “What if” learning style. It prevents the facilitator from answering all questions herself. With this method trainees can:  close knowledge gaps find solutions for personal problems imagine themselves using their new knowledge in future and prepare themselves for obstacles

Guided Imagery

Coming up with new ideas doesn’t always have to be boisterous! You can also get the creative juices flowing in a relaxed way by tapping into mindfulness and imagination with this method.

Start by inviting participants to close their eyes and get comfortable. Next, progress through a guided meditation designed to inspire creativity. Afterward, ask your group to reflect on what came up for them in the meditation and use this as the basis for further brainstorming!

Guided Imagery   #idea generation   #creativity   #online facilitation   #reflection   This can be used for idea generation especially when the group is stuck.

Headlines from the future

Starting from the desired outcome and working backward with a reverse brainstorming technique can be a great way to solve a problem. Thinking into the future can also be inspiring in a way that encourages free thinking and big ideas – a great result for any brainstorming workshop.

In this idea generation game, ask your group to imagine it’s twenty years in the future and that your project or organisation has been a huge success. Invite each participant to draft a headline and sketch an image for a New York Times feature of this reality. Encourage big, bold ideas and debrief by discussing any common themes or ideas before moving onto idea development as a team! 

Headlines from the Future   #creative thinking   #design   #idea generation   #creativity   Get inspired today by a world 20 years away. Sometimes it helps to start from the end. This exercise will help you align with your team on an audacious vision for your project – one that you can work backward from.

Brainstorming techniques for problem solving and refining ideas

When you want to go beyond initial brainstorming and generate more refined ideas, the following complex idea generation techniques can effectively guide you through the process.

These activities combine brainstorming with idea evaluation, idea selection, and then going into concept development to help you come up with the best options. Let’s dig in! 

25/10 Crowd Sourcing

Group ideation can be tricky to manage, and not all techniques are up to the task of managing creative input from large groups effectively. 25/10 Crowd Sourcing is a fantastic exercise that not only invites big, bold ideas, but can ensure everyone takes part in generating ideas as a group.

After first inviting participants to write a big, bold idea on an index card, start a timer and invite the group to move around the space and exchange cards without reading. Stop the timer and ask each person to read the idea and give it a score from 1 to 5. Repeat five times so that each idea has a score out of twenty-five and then find and share the top ten ideas with the group.

Group brainstorming techniques with a mix of blind scoring and sharing can be especially useful in avoiding bias and encouraging bold ideas – especially useful when ideating in large groups!

25/10 Crowd Sourcing   #idea generation   #liberating structures     You can help a large crowd generate and sort their bold ideas for action in 30 minutes or less! With 25/10 Crowd Sourcing , you can spread innovations “out and up” as everyone notices the patterns in what emerges. Though it is fun, fast, and casual, it is a serious and valid way to generate an uncensored set of bold ideas and then to tap the wisdom of the whole group to identify the top ten. Surprises are frequent!

3-12-3 Brainstorm

Brainstorming is often associated with fast ideation and energetic idea generation sessions. While many standard techniques can be slowed down and run in different ways, there can be obvious benefits to maintaining energy and proving the value of short working bursts to your ideation group. 

The 3-12-3 Brainstorm technique taps into the power of speed to generate great ideas and can help a team generate, develop, and present ideas in just less than twenty minutes. By combining speed and structure, this ideation method can help a group pressed for time use the session effectively, and we love how much ground can be covered by a group with this exercise!

3-12-3 Brainstorm   #gamestorming   #idea generation   This format for brainstorming compresses the essentials of an ideation session into one short format. The numbers 3-12-3 refer to the amount of time in minutes given to each of three activities: 3 minutes for generating a pool of observations, 12 for combining those observations into rough concepts, and 3 again for presenting the concepts back to a group.

Mash-Up Innovation

Some of the best ideas come from taking existing ideas and putting them together. Brainstorming that takes advantage of what your group already knows and loves can really supercharge the idea generation process and this creative exercise is a perfect example of that.

In Mash-Up innovation, first ask your group to brainstorm around three different topics or areas and add them to a shared space or whiteboard. Next, organize your participants into small groups who will spend the next twelve minutes combining and mashing up as many of the elements as possible to make even better ideas. After a short idea presentation, you can even take your group through an idea development stage to really make the most out of this activity. You’ll be surprised at what comes out!

Mash-Up Innovation   #hyperisland   #innovation   #idea generation   Mash-ups is a collaborative idea generation method in which participants come up with innovative concepts by combining different elements together. In a first step, participants brainstorm around different areas, such as technologies, human needs, and existing services. In a second step, they rapidly combine elements from those areas to create new, fun and innovative concepts. Mash-ups demonstrates how fast and easy it can be to come up with innovative ideas.

Large group brainstorming can be dynamic, exciting, and productive but without structure and strong facilitation, it can also become disorganized and frustrating. 1-2-4-All is a classic idea generation process that not only helps ideas find space to allow idea development but also ensures the entire group can contribute to the session. 

Start by inviting silent self-reflection on a shared challenge or question before then moving to pairs, foursomes, and then entire group ideation. One of the many benefits of this brainstorming technique is that everyone gets a chance to contribute freely and share their ideas in a structured way. In groups where conversation can become dominated by strong personalities or not everyone gets a chance to speak, this method is well worth employing. 

1-2-4-All   #idea generation   #liberating structures   #issue analysis   With this facilitation technique you can immediately include everyone regardless of how large the group is. You can generate better ideas and more of them faster than ever before. You can tap the know-how and imagination that is distributed widely in places not known in advance. Open, generative conversation unfolds. Ideas and solutions are sifted in rapid fashion. Most importantly, participants own the ideas, so follow-up and implementation is simplified. No buy-in strategies needed! Simple and elegant!

One will get you Ten

Ideas most often spring from other ideas, and the sharing and co-creation of ideas during a brainstorm or idea generation workshop is where the magic really happens. This technique uses the sharing of ideas between teams as a central concept and it’s a great way of having participants communicate and learn from one another’s ideas meaningfully. 

After first generating ideas solo and as a team, this ideation game asks team members to pair up with members of another team and share ideas. Each member then returns to their own team and presents two ideas – one of their own, and one from the other team – while the rest of the team guesses whose is whose. It’s interesting to see how participants package and present generated ideas and find ways to improve them organically as part of a rapid ideation.  

One will get you Ten   #thiagi   #idea generation   #team   If I give you a dollar and you give me a dollar, we both end up where we began. But if I give you an idea and you give me an idea, we end up with two ideas each, benefiting from a 100 percent return on our investment. In One Will Get You Ten, we leverage this principle so that you and all other participants receive a 1000 percent return on your investment on ideas.

The Creativity Dice

When approaching the idea generation process it can be tempting for a team to go with what’s worked in the past and get locked into what appears to be working. Games that challenge the status quo and challenge teams in ways they don’t expect can be especially effective when generating ideas. 

The Creative Dice is a brainstorming technique that encourages participants to work in three minute bursts and work on either specification, investigation, ideation, incubation, Iteration or integration based on a roll of the dice. By moving between different modes, this method prevents premature closure of one line of ideation and keeps the session energized and engaging. What’s more, the non-linear thinking can help with idea development too!

The Creativity Dice   #creativity   #problem solving   #thiagi   #issue analysis   Too much linear thinking is hazardous to creative problem solving. To be creative, you should approach the problem (or the opportunity) from different points of view. You should leave a thought hanging in mid-air and move to another. This skipping around prevents premature closure and lets your brain incubate one line of thought while you consciously pursue another.

Affinity Map

Using brainstorming techniques to get a large number of ideas together quickly and efficiently is a great first step to developing new solutions or solving problems. But what to do once you’ve generated lots of ideas and want to work on idea development? Affinity Map is a great method for organizing your group’s brainstormed ideas and for both seeing and challenging existing patterns.

Starting with a simple brainstorm, Affinity Map asks that the group collectively organizes the ideas into columns or groups based on relationships. By doing this idea clustering as a group, your team can take ownership of the idea generation process and discover patterns of thinking together! It’s a great way of identifying and improving a group’s natural inclinations while also creating meaningful ideas.

Affinity Map   #idea generation   #gamestorming   Most of us are familiar with brainstorming—a method by which a group generates as many ideas around a topic as possible in a limited amount of time. Brainstorming works to get a high quantity of information on the table. But it begs the follow-up question of how to gather meaning from all the data. Using a simple Affinity Diagram technique can help us discover embedded patterns (and sometimes break old patterns) of thinking by sorting and clustering language-based information into relationships. It can also give us a sense of where most people’s thinking is focused

Fun brainstorming games

Brainstorming is often a fast-paced and engaging process that results in a group having fun. Creative brainstorming games that help participants have fun while generating ideas are also effective ways of loosening folks up and getting into new ways of thinking. If you’re finding your group stuck

In this section, we’ll look at brainstorming games that intentionally take a fun angle as a means to create better ideas.

Energy, fun, and creativity go hand-in-hand, and brainstorming techniques that encourage these items and generate ideas quickly and effectively – especially with large groups!

In MindSpin, teams of 3-5 participants are challenged to write as many ideas as they can in two five-minute rounds. Whenever a person writes an idea, they slam it down on the table. If they cannot think of one, they can take an idea from the person on their left and hopefully be inspired to write an additional card they also slam on the table. Remember that this brainstorming game is designed to be fast and loud while getting creative juices flowing. Encourage all participants to really slam their ideas down and keep things moving!

MindSpin   #teampedia   #idea generation   #problem solving   #action   A fast and loud method to enhance brainstorming within a team. Since this activity has more than round ideas that are repetitive can be ruled out leaving more creative and innovative answers to the challenge.

Figure storming

One potential difficulty when generating ideas is that not everyone feels comfortable sharing or holds back their ideas for fear of judgment. Creative brainstorming is all about removing restrictions or hesitation, and enabling your group to ideate freely – figure storming is a great method for achieving this!

Start by asking the group how a famous person, fictional character or well-known creative would approach the problem or topic at hand. You might ask how Albert Einstein, Elizabeth Bennett or Barack Obama might think about the ideas or concepts at hand. By inhabiting a different person’s perspective, not only can teams and individuals access new ideas, but they can also do so free of judgment. Also, it can be great fun to invite Atilla the Hun or Cleopatra to your creative exercises!

Flip and Rip

Images can often unlock our creativity but when using them to generate ideas, it can sometimes be difficult to know where to start. This visual brainstorming technique places some rules on how a group will both source and use images, and can encourage some really creative ideas!

Start by giving participants two magazines or image sets each. Then, invite each person to tear our whatever images stand out to them or grab their attention. Next, give them a problem statement and encourage them to find the connections between the problem and their chosen images. These unexpected connections between visuals can then be used as the foundation for further ideas! Plus, who doesn’t love the sound and feeling of tearing paper!

Flip and Rip   #idea generation   #problem solving   #creativity   #online   Creativity through pictures and images

Forced Connections

An important part of the ideation process is giving your team permission to be silly and bring ideas to the table without fear of judgement or inhibitions. Empowering your team to be creative without limiting themselves can massively affect the effectiveness of your brainstorming and so it’s worth spending time to unblock your participants early.

Assemble a collection of random objects or images and invite participants to choose two or more items and brainstorm how they might be used together or connected in some way. Encourage out-of-the-box thinking and unusual ideas by bringing a collection of odd items to the table and you’ll be surprised at all the ideas your team can generate!

The Thing from the Future

Science fiction and speculative thinking about the future has long been a great source of ideas. In this brainstorming exercise, invite groups to co-design their ideal future by creating tangible objects with their imaginations.

Begin by sourcing a heap of prototyping materials and craft supplies. Invite participants to imagine an ideal future state and create an object that has time travelled back to the present. After spending some time creating strange and wonderful objects, participants then present them to the group and tell stories about the objects to inform future strategies and ideas.

If you’re looking for a fun, practical exercise to bring to your brainstorming session and encourage creative thinking, this activity is a great choice!

The Thing from the Future   #imagination   #storymaking   #idea generation   #issue analysis   Help a group to time-travel and tap their imagination by fictional objects. With tangible objects and the stories your participants make up w/ them you’ll get so much richer inputs and context to inform joint visioning / strategizing: The future doesn’t look that far away when you can pick it off the shelf.

Making Lemonade

Sometimes, the best ideas come from moments of adversity or struggle. This brainstorming exercises leverages the power of positive thinking and attempting to make the best of a bad situation to generate creative ideas.

Start by sharing a couple of negative scenarios that might radically change something in the world. For example, everyone in the world has a cold, it rains constantly or we lost all our customers over night.

Next, ask your group to take something that appears negative and aim to reframe it to be as positive as possible while coming up with ideas of how that change might actually have a positive impact. Rain every day? That might be the end of drought and a boom to umbrella sales!

Making Lemonade   #creative thinking   #creativity   #design   #idea generation   Try on a relentlessly positive, can-do attitude before tackling the big stuff. The proverb goes “If life gives you lemons, make lemonade.” Practice the art of positive thinking to unlock creative ideas. Use this as a warm-up before brainstorming or to energize your team meetings.

Visual brainstorming techniques

Visual brainstorming is a great way of helping your teams out of creative roadblocks and encouraging fresh ideas. When words fail, images can enliven, invigorate and inspire your process. In this section, we’ll look at some great brainstorming techniques that focus on drawing or creating visual responses when ideating. Let’s take a look! 

Brainstorming shouldn’t stop when you have your first good idea. Fast iteration and refinement can help your group discover better ideas and develop ideas in record time. With 6-8-5, you can encourage your team to move from brainstorming to idea development in just a few minutes, and by asking participants to draw, you can keep things flowing easily!

Start by inviting your group to sketch 6-8 ideas in response to a central question or topic in five minutes. Encourage your team to be rough and not to worry about finesse at this stage – remember that the first stage of brainstorming works best when it’s free and unrestricted!

After a quick round of presenting ideas, go through the sketching process again and encourage idea development or ideas that have come out of group sharing. The result will be a heap of ideas and sketches you can move forward with too! 

6-8-5   #gamestorming   #idea generation   Part of the reason we end up with under-developed ideas is that we stick with the first good idea we have — rather than taking the time to explore complementary approaches. 6-8-5 is designed to combat this pattern by forcing us to generate lots of ideas in a short period of time. The activity can then be repeated to hone & flesh out a few of the best ideas.

Four Step Sketch

Visual brainstorming techniques can be great right at the start of the process but they can be equally effective later on when it comes to idea development. In this exercise pulled from the design sprint playbook, take your group through a structured ideation process that encourages reflection, quick sketching and a completed idea too.

Begin by reviewing any existing materials or outputs from earlier exercises before then having your group do a round of Crazy 8’s, where they create eight sketched variations on their idea. At this stage, you then invite participants to finesse their idea and create a final polished sketch to share with the team. By mixing reflection, ideation and development, this brainstorming technique offers a structured path towards better ideas!

Four-Step Sketch   #design sprint   #innovation   #idea generation   #remote-friendly   The four-step sketch is an exercise that helps people to create well-formed concepts through a structured process that includes: Review key information Start design work on paper,  Consider multiple variations , Create a detailed solution . This exercise is preceded by a set of other activities allowing the group to clarify the challenge they want to solve. See how the Four Step Sketch exercise fits into a Design Sprint

Drawing Together

Visual thinking is a powerful tool for any creative process or brainstorming workshop. This brainstorming game asks teams to tell stories about a personal or group challenge personal by expressing themselves with just five simple symbols drawn on paper. After a first draft, participants are then invited to refine their stories with colour, size and placement before the group interprets them.

By expressing themselves in a novel way, participants can exercise their creative muscles and consider new ways to express ideas nonverbally.

Drawing Together   #skills   #liberating structures   #visual methods   You can help people access hidden knowledge such as feelings, attitudes, and patterns that are difficult to express with words. When people are tired, their brains are full, and they have reached the limits of logical thinking, you can help them evoke ideas that lie outside logical, step-by-step understanding of what is possible. Stories about individual or group transformations can be told with five easy-to-draw symbols that have universal meanings. The playful spirit of drawing together signals that more is possible and many new answers are expected. Drawing Together cuts through the culture of overreliance on what people say and write that constrains the emergence of novelty. It also provides a new avenue of expression for some people whose ideas would otherwise not surface.

Brainstorming games for warming up

Generating ideas and thinking creatively isn’t always easy. Finding ways to energize and prepare your group for brainstorming with simple and fun warm-ups can help ensure the success of the workshop or session and introduce key idea generation concepts too.

While these creative games don’t necessarily create ideas in themselves, they are a great way to get teams ready for the next step. Let’s take a look!

When it comes to warming people up for an idea generation workshop, simple is best. With Draw Toast, you can introduce your group to visual thinking, working memory and systems thinking, all through the prism of a simple warm-up that works well online or offline!

For this creative exercise, invite your participants to illustrate how to make toast with a sketch or diagram without using any text. Afterward, share observations and insights as a group and outline the fact that there is no right or wrong diagram, and that differing and unique approaches to a problem or concept are all valid and useful. Not only is this a fun, fast brainstorming technique, but it prepares a group for the next stages of idea generation too!

Draw toast   #problem solving   #opening   #design   #gamestorming   #idea generation   You can use the Draw Toast exercise to introduce people to the concepts of visual thinking, working memory, mental models and/or systems thinking. This also works as a nice warm-up exercise to get people engaged with each other and thinking visually. Plus, it’s fun!

The Paper Clip Method

Even established and successful groups have preconceptions about brainstorming or how to generate ideas. Warming up a team by introducing the power of brainstorming practically can prevent stumbling blocks later on and ensure everyone is on the same page when approaching the brainstorming process.

The Paper Clip Method is a creative exercise that challenges your group to brainstorm all possible uses for a paper clip. After some silent brainstorming, debrief by sharing what the group has come up with and highlight how the group has cumulatively come up with a greater quality and quantity of ideas than any single person could.

The paper clip method   #sharing   #creativity   #warm up   #idea generation   #brainstorming   The power of brainstorming. A training for project leaders, creativity training, and to catalyse getting new solutions.

Apple-Drawing Ideation

Learning how to approach creative brainstorming as a group is a worthwhile way to kick-off your idea generation workshop. In this simple creative game, split your participants into groups and invite them to take it in turns to fill a grid with drawings of apples, with the challenge that no apple can be the same as another. 

When the time is done or the grid is full, debrief and highlight some of key concepts for effective brainstorming including the fact quantity is a precursor to quality and that we should try to build on the ideas of others. This brainstorming game is flexible by design  and you can use it with something other than apples for a more practical application: e.g., draw 30 logos, write 30 taglines, draw 30 new cars.

Apple-Drawing Ideation   #hyperisland   #innovation   #idea generation   The purpose of this simple exercise is to demonstrate three key principles useful for creativity and idea generation: quantity is a condition for quality; building on the ideas of others; the ideas we come up with are usually all the same. The format is simple, with small groups standing and drawing apples. At the end of the exercise, the whole group reflects and draws out learnings and reflections.

Activities to support a brainstorming workshop

We’ve covered everything from fast and fun creative games to in-depth brainstorming techniques, but what about if you’re looking for ways to improve or kick start your brainstorming process? Preparing for a brainstorming workshop with research on inspiration collection can really help your team make the most of the upcoming session.

In this section, we’ll look at some techniques and methods you can use to inform, enable and improve your group brainstorm and bring better quality ideas to the table! 

Rapid Research

Like all effective workshops, idea generation sessions generally want to limit the number of participants in the room to ensure productivity. That said, ideas and insight can come from anywhere in an organisation and this brainstorming technique can tap into the expertise of people outside of the room.

Start by asking participants to think of a colleague or peer outside the room and call them to get a perspective on the topic or question at hand. For remote teams, you can arrange quick calls or use Slack or other tools to get quick and useful feedback. After collecting input, bring the group back together to share and document insights. You’ll be surprised at how quickly and effectively you can get a wide variety of useful information!

Rapid Research   #hyperisland   #innovation   #idea generation   A simple exercise that complements exploratory, discursive, and creative workshops with insights and opinions from outside. Use this exercise when brainstorming ideas, developing a new product or service or creating a strategy or plan that will include others. Participants phone a co-worker and ask them questions relevant to the task. This quickly generates meaningful input from a range of “outside” perspectives. Often, participants will be surprised at how simple it was to solicit this input and how valuable it is to the process.

Lightning Demos

No idea is wholly original. Brainstorming is all about taking existing ideas and learning from others while also bringing our own insights to the table.

With this activity, you and your group will look for inspiration from how other organizations, products or thought leaders have solved or approached the problem or topic at hand. Invite participants to spend a little time gathering 2-3 examples before then presenting ideas back to the group. By the end of the exercise, you’ll have a set of ideas you can use as the basis for further discussion or idea development.

If you’re working online, collect demos in an online whiteboard and even explore the possibility of gathering inspiration before the workshop if your team has a busy schedule.

Lightning Demos   #design sprint   #innovation   #idea generation   This is an exercise to inspire your team with products or services that they think they can use as inspiration for their concepts in the next phases of their design sprints.

The Medici Effect

Great ideas can often come from sources outside of your own industry or field. The Medici Effect is inspired by Frans Johansson’s book The Medici Effect, which explores how game-changing ideas and breakthroughs can occur when concepts and ideas from one area are applied to another and used as the basis for innovation.

In this exercise, invite participants to find examples of how individuals from other fields have achieved their goals and come up with great ideas. Think of successful scientists, creatives, business owners, musicians, entrepreneurs, educators etc. have found success and what inspiration you and your team might take from them. If working online, encourage participants to include images, links and quotes so you can create an inspiration wall for further exploration of the problem you are trying to solve!

Brainstorming session templates

Are you looking to run a workshop or meeting where you need a complete group process to come up with ideas and turn those into actions? 

Check out the brainstorming session templates below to see how to build upon an initial brainstorming session with appropriate idea selection and prioritization tools to arrive at sound group decisions.!

Ideation Workshop

In this one-day workshop template, follow an entire ideation process from start to finish, going from brainstorming and idea generation through to idea development and pitching. Tap into concepts such as disruptive cases, future tech & trends and opposite thinking to create innovative ideas and empower your team!

One Hour Brain Sprint

Have imited time for group brainstorming? Try the One Hour Brain Sprint to generate ideas quickly and effectively, all while avoiding unproductive discussions and the pitfalls of some brainstorming approaches.

One-hour Brain Sprint

Remote Problem Solving Workshop

Want to solve problems with your remote team? This virtual workshop template includes several stages of ideation and development and provides a great example of how you might utilize lightning demos and research as a basis for experimental ideas and solutions.

Remote problem solving workshop

What are the benefits of group brainstorming ?

While the primary measure of success for a brainstorming workshop will be the quantity and quality of ideas generated, the benefits of this kind of session can go much further.

Establishing an ideation mindset and encouraging creative thinking will benefit your organization in the long term, and finding new ways to push your team in the direction of generating effective ideas has positive effects for your whole organization. Let’s see some of the benefits that can come from bringing team members together for a brainstorming session.

Encourage creativity 

Creative games and exercises can yield instant results when it comes to creatively engaging a team and generating ideas but beyond that, regular brainstorming can help participants be more creative in their regular work and find methods of finding new ideas and solutions that work for them. Being creative is a wonderful way to engage a group and getting out of a regular workflow can be the key that unlocks innovation.

Inclusive, easy-to-understand activities

Brainstorming is a simple group activity that is easy to understand and contribute to. Whatever skill level or competency a person has, the first stage of the idea generation process is something that can be involved in with little overhead or difficulty. This can have massive value in helping a team come together toward a shared goal in an inclusive and simple way!

Diverse ideas

Relying on certain teams or individuals to generate ideas alone can lead to stagnation. By pooling together a diverse group of people to contribute to generating and developing ideas, brainstorming can be a great way to find innovative approaches and diverse ways of thinking. Every point of view you bring to the table is another way of approaching the issue and the results generated by diverse groups are often more robust and multi-facted than those made in a silo.

Quantity of ideas

When it comes to brainstorming techniques, quantity often comes before quality. In order to find great ideas, a group first needs to flush out as many ideas as possible and share before moving onto idea development. The best brainstorming exercises encourage the creation of large amounts of ideas in a short period of time, providing a great foundation for the next steps! 

Get past creative blocks

Problem solving or idea generation can go around in circles if a team isn’t given the freedom to think creatively and approach things from a new angle. Brainstorming methods like those featured here are great ways to unblock a team’s creative and find new ways to approach stalled conversations.

Improve team morale

Brainstorm sessions are often fun and energetic by their nature, and games and exercises that focus on idea generation allow for everyone to contribute and feel heard as part of their team. These kinds of idea generation activities can really help bring a team together and improve team morale too – everyone wants to take part in developing new ideas and being creative!

Get project buy-in

Involving participants across departments and specialties early in the process by inviting them to contribute to generating and developing ideas can not only lead to great ideas but also ensure that a project is followed through on. Get buy-in early by involving stakeholders in early brainstorming sessions and help that creative energy continue throughout your project!

Kickstart projects with energy

The opening stages of a project can determine the tone for the rest of it, and by kicking off your projects with a fun, energetic brainstorming workshop, you can ensure everyone is energised for the work ahead. Try creative games to help your team approach the project with a sense of creativity and experimentation and use brainstorming techniques that see proven results to help move a team forward effectively.

Brainstorming sessions made simple

An effective brainstorming session means creating a balanced agenda of activities and group discussions while keeping everyone engaged.

With SessionLab, you  drag, drop and reorder blocks  to build your step-by-step agenda.

Your session  timing   adjusts automatically  as you make changes and when you’re done, you can  share a beautiful printout  with your colleagues and participants.

Explore  how facilitators use SessionLab  to design effective workshops that create results or  watch this five minute video  to see the planner in action!

Over to you

Brainstorming can be simple or complex, visual or virtual, but whatever method you choose to use, the results should be the same – great ideas. Finding new ways to facilitate innovation is something we’re passionate about here at SessionLab, and we hope you find the above brainstorming techniques useful! 

Did we miss anything? Are there any great brainstorming or idea generation methods you’d like to add? We’d love to hear from you in the comments.

James Smart is Head of Content at SessionLab. He’s also a creative facilitator who has run workshops and designed courses for establishments like the National Centre for Writing, UK. He especially enjoys working with young people and empowering others in their creative practice.

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5 brainstorming techniques for efficient problem-solving

Executive Summary:

There are plenty of advantages that come with efficient problem-solving, such as quicker decision-making, overcoming obstacles, gaining a competitive edge, and generating business growth. So, it’s pretty clear that problem-solving is crucial for businesses, and effective brainstorming techniques are vital when it comes to achieving it.

Brainstorming is a method used by individuals or groups to generate innovative ideas or solutions for a specific issue. It encourages free thinking and unrestricted sharing of thoughts, promoting a creative and collaborative atmosphere. Yet, at the end of the day, brainstorming is only part of problem-solving; they aren’t the same thing and here are three reasons why:

• Brainstorm focuses on generating ideas, while problem-solving involves analyzing andimplementing solutions.
• Brainstorming is informal and spontaneous, encouraging creativity and diverse opinions, whereas problem-solving follows a systematic and structured method whereby the outcome is a solution.
• Brainstorming produces multiple ideas, while problem-solving simply seeks one practical and effective solution.

So, as you’re probably realizing, brainstorming is only the starting point for problem-solving. During brainstorming sessions, a wide range of ideas and perspectives are generated. These ideas are then evaluated and selected during the problem-solving phase of the process. By incorporating diverse ideas, problem-solving becomes more innovative and creative, leading to more effective solutions.

To help you reach your goals for efficient problem-solving, here are five examples of brainstorming techniques that you can implement in your company:

• Team Relay : small groups share and build on ideas to foster creativity and initiate new projects.
• Reverse Brainstorming: generating ideas that exacerbate the problem to find unconventional, out-of-the-box solutions.
• Focus Group: small group discussions to generate suggestions and ideas for problem-solving.
• Crazy-8 : fast-paced brainstorming technique to generate ideas within 8 minutes. ‍
• 1-2-4-All: individual and group idea generation to facilitate teamwork and quick idea generation.

If you run a business, you should know one thing.

You’re inevitably going to be faced with challenges. 

While no one likes to talk about when things go wrong, there’s no denying that it happens pretty regularly in the world of business. There are always going to be problems and challenges to overcome. But instead of becoming sitting ducks for these challenges, you’ll gain the upper hand if you know how to solve these problems… and how to solve them fast !

Quick problem-solving has many advantages, including quick decision-making , overcoming obstacles, a competitive edge over others , business success/growth, among many more.

That said, all the benefits look great, but there’s one underlying question: how can you solve your company’s problems fast? The answer lies in the concept of efficient brainstorming techniques .

In this article, you’ll find a step-by-step guide, telling you all you need to know about brainstorming to make problem-solving decisions more efficiently, boosting your company's success and promoting efficient teamwork .

Key concepts

What is problem-solving.

Problem-solving is a process that seeks to find solutions to problems or challenges. It includes a series of steps: 

• Examining the problem
• Identifying potential solutions
• Assessing them
• And then choosing the optimal solution

But most importantly, you should know that problem-solving follows a structured methodology . It combines critical thinking, creativity, and decision-making abilities , all to reach the goal of a straightforward solution to problems.

Now that that’s sorted, let’s talk about brainstorming .

What is brainstorming?

Brainstorming is a method used by individuals or groups to generate multiple inventive ideas or solutions for a particular issue or subject. The whole concept is based on a cooperative effort and an approach that prompts you and your team members to think freely, articulating any thoughts you have without restriction.

This process aims to build a creative and encouraging atmosphere , where everyone within your company can expand each another's ideas to collaboratively come to creative solutions.

It takes the pressure to come up with one ultimate solution, and shares it out between everyone on the team – as they say, “a problem shared is a problem halved” and the same notion applies here!

You can skip the next section if you’re already confident in differentiating between the two concepts of brainstorming and problem-solving . However, plenty of people tend to mix the two up given their similarities. So, the next section focuses on the differences between them.

What are the differences between problem-solving and brainstorming?

There are three key differences between problem-solving and brainstorming,  but that doesn’t mean that you can’t use them in close connection. After this section, we’ll cover how the two concepts work hand-in-hand, but in order to combine them successfully, you also need to understand each of them individually .

The first difference is the focus or the objective . Aside from the fact that brainstorming is simply an initial stage within the problem-solving process, it also has a different objective. The goal of brainstorming techniques is to simply generate ideas. In this phase, there’s no evaluation of their feasibility or efficiency - the goal is simply to come up with as many ideas as possible for solving the problem in question.

Conversely, problem-solving is a more complex process. It entails the analysis of the problem, the evaluation of potential solutions, and the selection of the most suitable way to implement it. It revolves around identifying the best solution from the numerous ideas generated through the brainstorming process. The goal of problem-solving is not to generate ideas, but rather to find the ones that will solve the problem.

Another difference between the two can be found in the approach by which the process is conducted . Brainstorming adopts a more informal approach as participants are encouraged to think freely, to share ideas spontaneously , and to build on each other's suggestions. Of course, there is a need for structure, but there are no boundaries for efficient teamwork.

Then, we have the difference in the emphasis on encouraging creativity and a range of opinions , which isn’t so much the case in problem-solving. The problem-solving process adheres to a systematic and structured methodology, including problem identification, analysis, solution evaluation, and implementation. It relies on an established structure that can guarantee a solution.

The last of the three differences lies in the result — or the outcome, as we often refer to it. Brainstorming sessions produce so many ideas, as they aim to drum up as many options through different creative thinking approaches that can then be further explored. For problem-solving, you’re only looking for one practical and effective solution to the problem.

The success of a problem-solving process doesn’t just depend on how many ideas you can come up with, but rather depends on whether the identified solution is able to adequately address the issue and achieve the desired results.

If you’ve kept up this far, you’ve probably started to realize that the two can work hand-in-hand.

How can brainstorming and problem-solving be complementary for efficient teamwork?

You already know that a brainstorming session is the starting point for a problem-solving process, but that’s not all that there is to it.

You and your team members can generate various ideas, approaches, and perspectives during the brainstorming phase. This uninhibited flow of ideas helps expand everyone’s thinking and thought processes , and to explore multiple potential solutions.

Once the brainstorming phase is complete, you can transition into problem-solving mode . This is when you and your team can evaluate the ideas generated during brainstorming and select the most promising ones for further analysis and development. This evaluation ensures that the chosen ideas align with the problem at hand and are more likely to succeed.

By incorporating the diverse ideas generated during brainstorming, problem-solving becomes more creative and innovative . You and your team can explore unconventional approaches and perspectives that may only have been briefly considered during the brainstorming phase. The result? More effective and efficient solutions.

How can brainstorming help in problem-solving in teams of any size?

You might be thinking, ‘Haven’t we already gone over this?’, but the answer is, not really!

While we have explored the correlation between brainstorming and problem-solving, this section will look into the benefits of brainstorming and which ways it can be the best starting point to guarantee optimally efficient problem-solving process. Here are a few reasons as to why brainstorming is the ultimate solution for efficient problem-solving in your business.

A range of perspectives leading to a broader range of solutions

Brainstorming involves collecting input and ideas from different team members. So, the larger the team, the more diverse perspectives and experiences are likely to be offered up. This diversity can lead to a broader range of ideas and solutions as individuals approach problems from various angles .

Higher chance of unique ideas

Brainstorming encourages free thinking and is conducive to creativity. Purely down to numbers, larger teams have a higher chance of generating unique and innovative ideas. Team members' collective intelligence and creativity can result in unexpected, breakthrough solutions.

Collective intelligence and synergy

Brainstorming facilitates collaboration and encourages active participation from team members. When people come together to generate ideas, they can build on each other's suggestions, expand upon initial concepts, and create synergistic solutions. The whole team can benefit from the collective intelligence and creativity of everyone involved.

Brainstorming facilitates problem-understanding

In a larger team, different individuals bring diverse expertise and knowledge to the table, and brainstorming allows team members to share their insights and understanding of the problem, enabling a more comprehensive analysis. This broader perspective can lead to a deeper understanding of the problem and help uncover underlying factors that may have been previously overlooked.

Increased solution pool

With a larger team, there is a higher likelihood of generating a larger pool of potential solutions. Brainstorming enables the team to explore a wide range of ideas, even if some may initially seem unconventional or unlikely. A larger solution pool enhances the chances of finding an optimal and effective solution .

Increased motivation to find a solution through team accountability

When team members are actively involved in brainstorming sessions, they feel a sense of accountability and engagement to the problem-solving mission. In larger teams, more individuals have the opportunity to contribute and to be heard, leading to higher engagement levels and boosting motivation to find a solution.

Higher chances of making a decision

Brainstorming also helps in narrowing down the options and selecting the most viable solutions . Larger teams can leverage their collective wisdom and diverse perspectives to evaluate and prioritize the ideas generated during brainstorming. This collaborative decision-making process increases the likelihood of selecting the best solution for the problem.

5 brainstorming methods that can help for efficient problem-solving – and how they do it

Team Relay involves working together in small groups to share ideas. It’s just like a relay race; instead of passing on the baton, you pass and build on ideas. Everyone takes turns to put their two cents in, and the ideas continue to evolve within the group . This helps you to work with your team members and come up with lots of creative ideas.

Team Relay is best for teams of about 12 participants , and this method helps you find new ideas by bouncing off what the team says. You can identify and initiate new projects by working as a cohesive team, capitalizing on every idea collectively and elevating your thinking powe r to new heights. If you want to kick things off with the Team Relay method, the Klaxoon visual platform has a readymade template for this brainstorming technique that you can use.

Reverse Brainstorming

Reverse brainstorming is a technique where, instead of generating ideas to solve a problem, you focus on creating ideas that will make the problem worse or that will cause the problem. In other words, you’ll turn the problem upside down to define the worst-case scenario. So, how does this help solve the problem?

This excellent brainstorming tool can be used with your team at the start of a project or when you're stuck at a crossroads with a problem. It helps you t hink outside the box and unleash your imagination . Then, just like magic, the solutions will start to appear on their own! Give this tool a go, and try this template .

Focus group

A focus group is a small group of people (about 6 to 12 participants) who have been selected to meet up and talk or share ideas about a specific problem (strategic development, marketing positioning, etc.). 

This selected team works together to generate thoughts and suggestions to help solve the problem or develop new ideas. You can either conduct a qualitative survey on a concept, product, or service, or you can ask the participants to fill in this ready-to-use template .

Crazy 8 is a pretty fast-paced, dynamic technique, so we’ll try to keep up the pace and explain it concisely.

This is a unique strategy that allows you to brainstorm with your team with a key element… speed ! While some brainstorming techniques could simply waste time and drum up an excessive volume of sub-par or irrelevant ideas, this method is all about eyes on the prize, full steam ahead. 

With the Crazy 8 methodology, you can generate new ideas as a team in less than 8 minutes ! If you want to know more about this unique technique, head over to the this Klaxoon template .

As the last of the five, we are introducing you to a concept that has proven to be very effective. The 1-2-4-All method is like regular brainstorming but in several steps:

• First, everyone thinks on their own; 
• Then, they share their ideas in bigger groups (in pairs, then in groups of 4, and then with everyone). 

The goal is to help your team come up with ideas together. With this method, everyone can first think independently , no matter how many people are in the group. Other people can't influence their ideas or make them doubt themselves, and in this uninhibited way, the ideas pile up quickly. 

It makes it easier for both you, as the leader, and your team members, to contribute their ideas and progressively confirm their objectivity through the groups’ input. It's a relaxed and pressure-free way to get everyone involved.

Try ready-to-use brainstorming tools and resources

On the Klaxoon visual platform, we have tools that you can use with your team to lead more effective brainstorming sessions . We also provide ready-to-use templates for brainstorming that can be used in different ways for quick problem-solving.

Our visual tools are designed to promote efficient teamwork and collaboration, no matter what kind of business you have. So, if you want to boost your business, hone your problem-solving strategy, and refine your brainstorming techniques , check out our resources and see how the Klaxoon platform can help you.

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Are you struggling to come up with innovative ideas or solutions? Look no further! In this article, we will explore various brainstorming techniques that can help you unlock your creativity and generate fresh perspectives. By utilizing these techniques, you can break free from the constraints of traditional thinking and tap into the limitless potential of your mind.

So get ready to unleash your imagination as we embark on a journey through various types of brainstorming that will revolutionize the way you think and generate ideas!

Brainstorming: Unleashing Creativity and Problem-Solving Potential

Brainstorming is a powerful technique used by individuals or teams to tackle problems, spur innovation, and generate fresh ideas for enhancing products, organizations, or strategies. Brainstorming can unlock creativity and solve complex challenges by following a structured process.

What is Brainstorming, You Ask?

Brainstorming is a collaborative approach that encourages participants to think freely, share ideas, and build upon each other’s contributions. It fosters an environment where no idea is deemed too outrageous or impractical, promoting a diverse range of perspectives and possibilities.

Three Steps of A Successful Brainstorming Session

Regardless of the chosen method, most brainstorming strategies involve three essential steps:

• Capture ideas: During this phase, participants generate and record as many ideas as possible without judgment or evaluation. The goal is to encourage a free flow of thoughts and maximize the number of suggestions.
• Discuss and critique the ideas: Once a substantial list of ideas has been generated, participants engage in a constructive discussion to examine and evaluate each suggestion. This step allows for clarification, expansion, and refinement of ideas through open communication.
• Choose which ideas to execute: Following the discussion and critique phase, participants collectively determine which ideas have the most potential for implementation. Selection criteria may include feasibility, impact, alignment with objectives, and resource availability.

The Ingredients for Effective Brainstorming

Every successful brainstorming session requires three fundamental elements:

• Individuals or groups: Brainstorming can be performed individually or in a group setting. Individual brainstorming allows for personal reflection and ideation, while group brainstorming harnesses the collective intelligence and diverse perspectives of multiple participants.
• A problem or opportunity: Brainstorming is initiated with a specific problem or opportunity in mind. It could range from addressing a technical issue in a product to finding innovative marketing strategies for a new business venture. Clearly defining the focus ensures a targeted and productive brainstorming session.
• Time: Sufficient time should be allocated to allow participants to engage in thorough idea generation, discussion, and evaluation. Rushing through the process may hinder creativity and limit the quality of the outcomes.

Common Challenges in Brainstorming Sessions and How to Overcome Them

Brainstorming sessions are meant to be a collaborative and dynamic process for generating ideas and solving problems. However, several factors can hinder the effectiveness of a brainstorm, preventing teams from maximizing their creative potential.

Here we explore some common challenges that can derail brainstorming sessions and offers strategies to overcome them.

Unbalanced Conversation

One prevalent issue in brainstorming sessions is when extroverted individuals or quick thinkers dominate the conversation, leaving little room for other team members to contribute. This lack of balance can stifle creativity and hinder the exploration of diverse perspectives.

The Anchoring Effect

The anchoring effect occurs when participants fixate on the initial ideas presented during a brainstorming session. This fixation can limit the generation of new ideas and prevent the team from exploring alternative possibilities.

Overcoming the anchoring effect is crucial for fostering a more expansive and innovative brainstorming environment.

Awkward Silence

A lack of preparation among participants can lead to awkward silence during brainstorming sessions, creating an unproductive atmosphere. Alternatively, the session may be cut short to alleviate the discomfort. These situations hinder the free flow of ideas and impede the overall progress of the session.

Disconnected Teams in Remote Settings

With the rise of remote work during the pandemic, brainstorming sessions have shifted to video conferencing platforms. However, this transition brings its own challenges, such as the difficulty of capturing the creative energy that arises from having everyone physically present in the same room.

Additionally, remote sessions can be prone to interruptions and communication issues, further hindering the brainstorming process.

14 Effective Brainstorming Techniques – Different Types of Brainstorming Explained

Associative Brainstorming

Associative brainstorming is a versatile technique that can be performed individually or in a group. By starting with a single word that captures the essence of an idea, participants jot down associated words that come to mind.

This process is most effective when the mind is allowed to roam freely, generating as many words as possible. The interplay of related words stimulates the brain to make new connections, fostering the emergence of fresh ideas.

The duration of the exercise can be tailored to suit preferences, ranging from 10 minutes to an hour.

Brainwriting: Unleashing Collective Creativity

Brainwriting is a collaborative brainstorming exercise that harnesses the collective creative potential of a team. The exercise begins with a team leader presenting a topic. Each team member writes down three ideas on a piece of paper, which is then passed to another member.

The process continues, with each subsequent participant building upon the ideas presented before them. Once completed, the team gathers to review and refine the generated ideas, discarding some and identifying others that inspire further exploration.

With additional brainstorming, average ideas can be transformed into extraordinary ones.

Freestorming: Capturing the Power of Uninhibited Thinking

Freestorming involves capturing every thought that comes to mind when contemplating an idea. In a quiet setting, individuals immerse themselves in free storming, noting down every relevant and irrelevant, good and bad idea in a notebook or on a computer.

This powerful technique allows for the uninhibited expression of “real and raw” ideas and encourages deep exploration, unveiling hidden possibilities waiting to be discovered.

Virtual Brainstorming: Overcoming Time and Space Barriers

Virtual brainstorming, also known as online brainstorming, has become increasingly popular as teams are often geographically dispersed. With a reliable internet connection, teams can gather on a centralized online platform to initiate and facilitate discussions.

Collaboration tools, such as OneThread , offer a seamless communication and collaboration experience, enabling teams to conduct brainstorming sessions through discussions and capture important insights in the notes section.

Virtual brainstorming eliminates the constraints of time and space, allowing for efficient idea generation.

Rolestorming: Embracing Empathy and Creativity

Rolestorming injects an element of fun and engagement into the brainstorming process. Instead of thinking from their own perspective, participants imagine themselves in someone else’s shoes, such as their boss, mentor, or even prominent figures like Warren Buffett , Steve Jobs, or Barack Obama.

This technique encourages participants to break free from their own limitations and inhibitions, fostering fresh ideas while retaining their authenticity. By adopting the mindset of influential individuals, rolestorming allows for unique insights and a glimpse into the world of the great thinkers.

Rapid Ideation

In this technique, everyone writes down as many ideas as possible within a set time before any ideas are discussed. This prevents premature dismissal of ideas and encourages the sharing of raw thoughts.

Figure Storming

This involves discussing how a well-known figure not present in the room would approach the problem. This can help the team approach the problem from a different perspective and encourages more creative sharing.

Eidetic Image Method

This visualization-based method involves using vivid mental images to build upon an existing design or idea. It’s particularly useful when the goal is to enhance an existing concept rather than reinvent it.

Online Brainstorming (Brain Netting)

This technique involves using a central location, such as a shared document or a chat platform, for team members to write down their ideas. It’s especially useful for remote teams and can help level the playing field.

Round-Robin Brainstorming

In this method, every member contributes one idea in turn. This ensures everyone gets to participate and all ideas are shared before moving on to the critique phase.

Step-Ladder Technique

This complex technique involves introducing team members one by one to the brainstorming session, allowing each person to share their ideas before learning about the ideas already discussed. This helps avoid undue influence from the first few ideas or the loudest voices.

Mind Mapping

Starting with one idea, the group draws lines connecting sub-ideas to the first one. This visual approach can be helpful for those who think visually.

Starbursting

This later-stage technique involves creating a six-point star around an idea, with each point representing a question: who, what, when, where, why, and how. This helps the team examine an idea from every angle.

Change of Scenery

Moving the brainstorming session to a different location can help stimulate new ideas. A new environment can help people think differently and come up with fresh ideas.

Benefits of Team Brainstorming: Enhancing Collaboration and Creativity

Boosts Group Morale: Fostering a Creative and Supportive Environment

Brainstorming as a team boosts group morale by creating a sense of unity and shared purpose. Collaborating in a creative and supportive setting allows teammates to engage face-to-face, strengthening team bonds.

To reap this benefit, it is crucial to withhold criticisms during the initial idea-capturing phase of the brainstorming process.

Promotes Creative Thinking: Nurturing Ideas and Productivity

Amidst the hustle and bustle of daily tasks, individuals often lack dedicated time for free-flowing idea generation, even in creative fields. Allocating specific time for unrestricted idea exploration without distractions is essential for maintaining creativity.

Furthermore, rallying individuals around a common topic or idea reduces isolation and can significantly enhance productivity. Unlike traditional meetings where preparedness is expected, brainstorms provide a space for half-baked ideas to be shared, serving as catalysts for new insights and building upon each other’s contributions.

Brings Together Diverse Ideas: Unleashing Collective Strengths

The collective brainstorming process surpasses the individual capabilities of team members. By bringing together diverse perspectives and strengths, group brainstorming generates more robust outcomes than solo ideation.

The variety of viewpoints sparks innovation and enables comprehensive problem-solving.

Yields a Large Quantity of Ideas: Maximizing Idea Generation

One of the key advantages of team brainstorming lies in the sheer quantity of ideas produced. While not every idea will be a winner, the abundance of generated ideas ensures a higher likelihood of discovering valuable concepts.

Following a brainstorming session, it is important to conduct a planning session to identify the most promising ideas and develop strategies for implementation.

These team brainstorming benefits can be further enhanced by employing structured brainstorming techniques. To boost creative energy, consider exploring creative quotes that can invigorate you and your team throughout the process.

By incorporating these diverse brainstorming methods into your creative process, you can enhance your problem-solving skills and come up with innovative solutions. Whether you are working on a business project or pursuing personal goals, these methods will help unlock your imagination and generate fresh ideas.

So next time you find yourself in need of inspiration or facing a creative block, remember the power of these brainstorming techniques – they might just lead you to brilliant breakthroughs!

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What is brainstorming? Definition, history, and examples of how to use it

November 28, 2019 by MindManager Blog

Brainstorming is a great technique that business professionals can use to generate new and unique ideas. It’s a term that’s thrown around quite a bit, and is often used interchangeably with other problem solving and idea generation techniques.

Brainstorming has become part of our daily lexicon in business. But what is brainstorming , and why is it an important technique for business professionals?

This article will tackle these two questions, and give you some examples of brainstorming topics or problems that are common in various business settings.

What is brainstorming?

Brainstorming is a group creativity technique that is often used to find a solution to a specific problem. This is accomplished by gathering and recording new ideas from team members in a free-flowing manner.

Brainstorming sessions are usually made up of a handful of core team members, and typically are led by a director or facilitator.

Brainstorming originated from an advertising executive named Alex F. Osborne, and dates back to around 1939. Frustrated with his employees’ inability to generate creative new ideas, Osborne began developing new methods for problem solving that focused on a team-based approach to work.

He began hosting group-thinking sessions, and discovered that this approach led to a significant boost in the quality and quantity of new ideas. Osborne coined these group meetings “brainstorm” sessions, and wrote about the technique in later publications.

During these brainstorming sessions, ideas are collected and recorded using whatever tool is available to the team. Modern businesses have begun to adopt digital brainstorming tools to speed up the process and make the review phases faster and more productive.

Quantity of ideas is usually emphasized over quality, with the goal of generating as many new suggestions as possible. Once all ideas have been collected, the team then evaluates each of them and focuses on the ones that are most likely to solve the problem.

The four principles of brainstorming

While brainstorming has evolved over the years, Osborne’s four underlying principles are a great set of guidelines when running your own sessions. These principles include:

• Quantity over quality. The idea is that quantity will eventually breed quality as ideas are refined, merged, and developed further.
• Withhold criticism. Team members should be free to introduce any and all ideas that come into their heads. Save feedback until after the idea collection phase so that “blocking” does not occur.
• Welcome the crazy ideas. Encouraging your team members to think outside of the box, and introduce pie in the sky ideas opens the door to new and innovative techniques that may be your ticket for success.
• Combine, refine, and improve ideas. Build on ideas, and draw connections between different suggestions to further the problem solving process.

Brainstorming techniques and processes helps your team innovate and work collaboratively. There’s no single right way to hold a brainstorming session. In fact, holding individual or reverse brainstorming sessions can both be helpful activities for generating new ideas.

Your goal should always be to use the process that works best for you and your team.

Eight reasons why brainstorming is important?

If you’ve ever held a brainstorming session, you likely know that they can be very effective for generating new ideas, and finding solutions to a problem. This is largely due to the many advantages of brainstorming that help teams work more collaboratively towards a common goal.

Some of the advantages of brainstorming for businesses and individual productivity include:

• Brainstorming allows people to think more freely, without fear of judgment.
• Brainstorming encourages open and ongoing collaboration to solve problems and generate innovative ideas.
• Brainstorming helps teams generate a large number of ideas quickly, which can be refined and merged to create the ideal solution.
• Brainstorming allows teams to reach conclusions by consensus, leading to a more well-rounded and better informed path forward.
• Brainstorming helps team members feel more comfortable bouncing ideas off one another, even outside of a structured session.
• Brainstorming introduces different perspectives, and opens the door to out-of-the-box innovations.
• Brainstorming helps team members get ideas out of their heads and into the world, where they can be expanded upon, refined, and put into action.
• Brainstorming is great for team building. No one person has ownership over the results, enabling an absolute team effort.

In summary, the core advantages of brainstorming are its ability to unlock creativity by collaboration. It’s the perfect technique to use for coming together as a team, and can help to generate exciting new ideas that can take your business to a new level.

Now that we’ve established what brainstorming is, and why it’s important, let’s take a look at some examples of scenarios where it would be useful.

Examples of when to use brainstorming

As you can probably guess, brainstorming is a technique that can be used in a wide variety of different situations. It can be in both your personal and professional life to help you find new ideas and solutions to different problems you’re working on.

Because of this versatility, brainstorming is a widely used technique among companies and teams of all sizes.

To get you thinking about where you can use brainstorming, here are some examples of scenarios when this technique might be useful.

Scenario #1

Your content and product marketing teams need to generate new messaging ideas for an upcoming product launch. You have a set of new features that you know will be exciting for your users, but you’re struggling to find the right words to convey their importance and benefits.

Calling a brainstorming session to generate new messaging ideas would be a perfect way to start this writing process. As a team, you can throw as many ideas and slogans together as you can, and then refine them together to get a clear picture of the direction going forward.

Scenario #2

You’ve been tasked by your executive team to come up with a growth strategy for the coming fiscal year, which focuses on expanding your footprint into your most successful markets. You know that there is room for growth, but aren’t sure which areas to focus on.

Gathering the key stakeholders in your department and across the organization for a brainstorming session will help you quickly gather a list of growth opportunities. Each team member will have their own ideas for growth within their role which can be added to a longer list of strategic possibilities.

Scenario #3

Your product development team has been repeatedly running into an issue with a new version of your software. Because of the complexity of the project, it’s difficult to tell what the root cause of the problem might be.

Calling your product team together for a brainstorming session will help you gather opinions on what the issue might be. As more theories come forth, it’s likely that a consensus will start to form about where the core issue lies. From there, you can brainstorm ways to fix the problem.

These are just three high level examples of brainstorming. This technique is incredibly versatile, and can be applied to virtually any problem or goal that your business needs to address.

The advantages of brainstorming are many, and we highly recommend that you start to incorporate it more throughout your business operations.

MindManager® is an innovative visual productivity solution that offers a variety of  pre-built templates to help you visualize projects more effectively, including Kanban boards, Gantt charts, Flowcharts, and more.

Download a free trial of MindManager today to get started with brainstorming!

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Brainstorming: 10 Examples, Techniques, and Benefits

Chris Drew (PhD)

Dr. Chris Drew is the founder of the Helpful Professor. He holds a PhD in education and has published over 20 articles in scholarly journals. He is the former editor of the Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education. [Image Descriptor: Photo of Chris]

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Brainstorming is the divergent thinking process of gathering a large number of ideas in a short amount of time, which you will parse and improve upon in future steps.

Commonly, it takes place on a piece of paper or large board where you can visually dump your ideas. However, it can also occur in your mind. It may also be either done individually or in groups (Al-Samarraie & Hurmuzan, 2018).

Definition of Brainstorming

The word brainstorming was first coined in the 1940s by advertising executive Alex F. Osbornn (Paulus & Kenworthy, 2019).

Osborn defined it as a way to generate a large number of ideas in a short amount of time without any criticism or judgement.

Importantly, brainstorming is about generating as many ideas as possible in order to help push through a plateau or brain block. Ideally, it will help bring out creativity and out-of-the-box thinking in order to generate fresh and innovative ideas (Litchfield, 2008).

One of the key benefits of brainstorming is that it allows an individual or group to think freely and suspend judgement of ideas.

This can lead to the creation and consideration of ideas that may not have been considered otherwise. Even a seemingly useless idea may lead to a fruitful breakthrough.

History of Brainstorming

While the act of brainstorming has likely been used for thousands of years, the term itself has its roots in the 1930s when Osborn, along with his colleagues at an advertising agency, began using group creativity sessions to generate ideas for their clients (Putman & Paulus, 2009).

With a new term coined, the concept became refined and made more explicit. Today, it has become a popular tool used in both organizations and people’s personal lives to generate new ideas and solve problems.

Popular ideas behind brainstorming have evolved over the years and brainstorming strategies have been adapted to suit different situations, industries, and needs (Paulus & Kenworthy, 2019).

For example, it can be used for anything from coming up with vacation ideas with your family to coming up with new product lines for large multinational corporations.

Stages of Brainstorming

The brainstorming process typically involves three stages: preparation, ideation, and evaluation (Paulus & Kenworthy, 2019).

• Preparation: The focus of the preparation stage should be on setting the rules, structure, and culture around the session. It may, for example, encourage team members to come to the team with sufficient background knowledge, and ensure all people in the group know the importance of creating a non-judgemental environment.
• Ideation: The ideation stage involves sharing ideas which will be added to the brainstorming notes, such as on a flipboard or shared screen during a group video call (Litchfield, 2008). This is where the actual idea generation takes place. Participants are encouraged to share their ideas knowing that there is ‘no silly idea’ at this point in time.
• Evaluation: With a wide range of ideas collected, the group needs to categorize, review, and select the most promising ideas. This may involve drawing connections between ideas, merging ideas together, and finding identifying problems with certain ideas. At this stage, it’s important to ensure the chosen ideas have alignment with the objective.

10 Examples of Brainstorming

Below are some possible situations in which brainstorming can be highly effective.

Example 1: Product Development

Brainstorming can be used to generate new product ideas or improve upon existing ones. For example, a team of designers, engineers, and marketers could brainstorm ideas for a new smartphone that incorporates cutting-edge technology and features. Importantly, the team should be composed of product market experts and, ideally, people with prior knowledge about issues with the current product iteration, consumer feedback, and gaps in the marketplace.

Example 2: Marketing Campaigns

Brainstorming is common in marketing and advertising, and in fact, the term was coined by a marketing professional.

Generally, this session would involve bringing together a team of creatives with good knowledge of the market as well as cutting-edge marketing techniques in order to come up with a campaign idea. For example, a team of marketers could brainstorm ideas for a new social media campaign that leverages the power of influencers to reach the audience.

Example 3: Brainstorming for a Novel

Brainstorming can be an excellent approach to improve writing techniques, especially when writing a novel.

In this situation, I would gather some fellow writers or personal tutors who have experience developing plots, characters and themes and go over the things that could work better in your novel.

By analyzing my plot structure and understanding my character’s traits based on their backstory, I could get valuable insight into how to make the story more engaging.

Example 4: Brainstorming for Business Strategic Plans

Brainstorming is an excellent way to devise strategic plans for higher-level business development.

It helps you visualize how your business may look like in the future while allowing feedback from team members involved in the development process to obtain insights from all departments.

A team of executives may get together around a single table with reports and data sheets explaining different growth areas of the company.

Example 5: Brainstorming New Classroom Ideas

Brainstorming is one of the best ways for teachers to develop new ideas for curriculum building and lesson planning.

Teachers should consider mingling with colleagues who have years teaching experience engaging students around different scenarios shaping them towards positive cognitive outcomes.

Example 6: Brainstorming Home Decor Projects

When renovating a home, brainstorming can help skyrocket creativity while considering factors like budget, style, and functionality.

Collaborating with an interior designer or friends who have taste in home decor and DIY projects can be useful in generating interesting ideas that match the requirements of the homeowner.

Example 7: Brainstorming for Event Planning

Brainstorming is an essential tool when it comes to event planning as it helps to identify key themes, vendors, catering, and decoration ideas.

The best part of brainstorming is involving event planners together with their clients in a room or a virtual hangout session to discuss their vision for the occasion and generate ideas in real-time.

Example 8: Brainstorming Personal Life Goals

Brainstorming can help you set achievable personal goals while shedding light on your desires.

At times like these having a life coach might come in handy who can incorporate exercises where you jot down all the things you desire either professionally or personally such as traveling to other countries or buying a new house.

See Also: A List of 151 Goals for Life

Example 9: Brainstorming UX Designs

In the development of digital products such as web applications or mobile apps brainstorming plays a key role.

Through group discussions between UX designers and developers they’ll emphasize ways of enhancing user experience by identifying areas where previous iterations had no success.

Example 10: Brainstorming Career Choices

Brainstorming can help young people finishing high school to create a roadmap towards the best career for them.

At this time of life, people usually don’t have a clear idea of the job they will do, but they may have a clear idea of what they are good at, what they enjoy doing, and the general direction they want to go (white collar, blue collar, etc.).

The process of deciding what to do may involve seeking out mentors or attending career fairs where people can offer guidance and support.

Techniques for Effective Brainstorming

There are several techniques that can be used to enhance the effectiveness of brainstorming sessions (Al-Samarraie & Hurmuzan, 2018). Generally, this involves putting in place clear group norms , including:

• Encouraging all participants to share their ideas
• Avoiding criticism and judgement
• Using visual aids to stimulate creativity
• Building on others’ ideas
• Combining ideas to create new solutions
• Setting a time limit to encourage rapid idea generation

Benefits of Brainstorming

The benefits of brainstorming are numerous. It can help people and organizations generate new ideas, solve complex problems, and make better decisions.

In the workplace, it can also improve team morale and strengthen team cohesion . By engaging individuals in idea generation, companies can create a culture of innovation and creativity.

1. Innovation

Firstly, brainstorming plays a significant role in boosting innovation (Litchfield, 2008).

When we sit together and come up with different creative ideas, we tend to approach situations with new perspectives that we often overlook alone. Sometimes our minds can only go so far when left to its devices!

The act of bouncing thoughts off one another elevates creativity tremendously. Brainstorming as a group often produces new solutions that wouldn’t have surfaced otherwise (Al-Samarraie & Hurmuzan, 2018).

2. Problem Solving

Secondly, brainstorming is incredibly beneficial for problem-solving .

While we all face challenges in life, brainstorming can act as a beneficial tool for addressing and overcoming those issues.

When faced with a problem, having multiple people collaborate during the decision-making process leads to better outcomes than relying solely on one person’s point of view (Litchfield, 2008).

In addition, when each member contributes equally unique views and suggestions about possible solutions without dismissing others’ input or ideas, new strategies can arise which become successful approaches (Paulus & Kenworthy, 2019).

3. Team Morale and Cohesion

A side-effect of brainstorming as a group is that it can make a stronger group dynamic . Its key principles include inclusion, open-mindedness, and working together.

Coincidentally, this can also make work much more enjoyable!

Collaborating as a team creates cohesiveness within the company culture because all persons contribute towards achieving mutual goals rather than accomplishing solo achievements only related to their title or job description (Paulus & Kenworthy, 2019).

Support from team members through both triumphs and failures can increase mutual respect among colleagues for each other while creating social bonds.

4. Culture of Innovation

Lastly, creating a culture of innovation becomes achievable when utilizing brainstorming tasks regularly within the company environment.

Brainstorming can lead to creative solutions that would not be possible without the open-minded, free-flowing brainstorming process (Paulus & Kenworthy, 2019).

Challenges of Brainstorming

While brainstorming can be a highly effective tool for generating ideas and solutions, it is not without its challenges. Some common challenges include:

• Groupthink : where individuals conform to the group’s opinions and ideas (Putman & Paulus, 2009). This may happen if one dominant person leads the brainstorming session in a particular direction.
• Unequal Participation: some participants may dominate the discussion while others are minimally involved. Less experienced or peripheral members of the group may be pushed aside.
• Lack of Focus: a brainstorming session can become unfocused and start to lack direction. While creativity and open-mindedness is useful, the session may also drift away from its original goals and end up failing to be fit for purpose.
• Criticism and Judgement: depending on the group culture, ideas may be criticized or judged prematurely, which can undermine the purpose of brainstorming. This is where positive workplace culture is highly important (Litchfield, 2008).
• Not conducive to Convergent Thinking : brainstorming is a type of divergent thinking, where people try to come up with multiple solutions to one problem. This is only useful at certain times (Putman & Paulus, 2009). Often, we need to do the opposite: come up with one solution by bringing together multiple pre-determined answers.

Sometimes, it can be beneficial for individuals to brainstorm on their own before coming together to share their ideas as a group (in education, we call this the think-pair-share method).

Brainstorming is a powerful tool that can be used to generate new ideas, solve complex problems, and make better decisions. By understanding the process, techniques, and benefits of brainstorming, individuals and organizations can unlock their creative potential and drive innovation and growth. While it is not without its challenges, careful planning, facilitation, and participation can help avoid these pitfalls and lead to successful and productive brainstorming sessions.

Al-Samarraie, H., & Hurmuzan, S. (2018). A review of brainstorming techniques in higher education.  Thinking Skills and creativity ,  27 , 78-91.

Litchfield, R. C. (2008). Brainstorming reconsidered: A goal-based view.  Academy of Management Review ,  33 (3), 649-668.

Putman, V. L., & Paulus, P. B. (2009). Brainstorming, brainstorming rules and decision making.  The Journal of creative behavior ,  43 (1), 29-40.

Paulus, P. B., & Kenworthy, J. B. (2019). Effective brainstorming.  The Oxford handbook of group creativity and innovation , 287-386.

Paulus, P. B., Kohn, N. W., & Arditti, L. E. (2011). Effects of quantity and quality instructions on brainstorming.  The Journal of Creative Behavior ,  45 (1), 38-46.

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2 thoughts on “Brainstorming: 10 Examples, Techniques, and Benefits”

Hi dear Thank you for your useful contents. How can I have PDF files of these Examples, Techniques, And Benefits or every thing about problem solving techniques and examples? my best regards Alireza Khorasani

Send me an email and I’ll get it sent out to you! Best, Chris.

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What is Problem Solving? (Steps, Techniques, Examples)

By Status.net Editorial Team on May 7, 2023 — 5 minutes to read

What Is Problem Solving?

Definition and importance.

Problem solving is the process of finding solutions to obstacles or challenges you encounter in your life or work. It is a crucial skill that allows you to tackle complex situations, adapt to changes, and overcome difficulties with ease. Mastering this ability will contribute to both your personal and professional growth, leading to more successful outcomes and better decision-making.

Problem-Solving Steps

The problem-solving process typically includes the following steps:

• Identify the issue : Recognize the problem that needs to be solved.
• Analyze the situation : Examine the issue in depth, gather all relevant information, and consider any limitations or constraints that may be present.
• Generate potential solutions : Brainstorm a list of possible solutions to the issue, without immediately judging or evaluating them.
• Evaluate options : Weigh the pros and cons of each potential solution, considering factors such as feasibility, effectiveness, and potential risks.
• Select the best solution : Choose the option that best addresses the problem and aligns with your objectives.
• Implement the solution : Put the selected solution into action and monitor the results to ensure it resolves the issue.
• Review and learn : Reflect on the problem-solving process, identify any improvements or adjustments that can be made, and apply these learnings to future situations.

Defining the Problem

To start tackling a problem, first, identify and understand it. Analyzing the issue thoroughly helps to clarify its scope and nature. Ask questions to gather information and consider the problem from various angles. Some strategies to define the problem include:

• Brainstorming with others
• Asking the 5 Ws and 1 H (Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How)
• Analyzing cause and effect
• Creating a problem statement

Generating Solutions

Once the problem is clearly understood, brainstorm possible solutions. Think creatively and keep an open mind, as well as considering lessons from past experiences. Consider:

• Creating a list of potential ideas to solve the problem
• Grouping and categorizing similar solutions
• Prioritizing potential solutions based on feasibility, cost, and resources required
• Involving others to share diverse opinions and inputs

Evaluating and Selecting Solutions

Evaluate each potential solution, weighing its pros and cons. To facilitate decision-making, use techniques such as:

• SWOT analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats)
• Decision-making matrices
• Pros and cons lists
• Risk assessments

After evaluating, choose the most suitable solution based on effectiveness, cost, and time constraints.

Implementing and Monitoring the Solution

Implement the chosen solution and monitor its progress. Key actions include:

• Communicating the solution to relevant parties
• Setting timelines and milestones
• Assigning tasks and responsibilities
• Monitoring the solution and making adjustments as necessary
• Evaluating the effectiveness of the solution after implementation

Utilize feedback from stakeholders and consider potential improvements. Remember that problem-solving is an ongoing process that can always be refined and enhanced.

Problem-Solving Techniques

During each step, you may find it helpful to utilize various problem-solving techniques, such as:

• Brainstorming : A free-flowing, open-minded session where ideas are generated and listed without judgment, to encourage creativity and innovative thinking.
• Root cause analysis : A method that explores the underlying causes of a problem to find the most effective solution rather than addressing superficial symptoms.
• SWOT analysis : A tool used to evaluate the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats related to a problem or decision, providing a comprehensive view of the situation.
• Mind mapping : A visual technique that uses diagrams to organize and connect ideas, helping to identify patterns, relationships, and possible solutions.

Brainstorming

When facing a problem, start by conducting a brainstorming session. Gather your team and encourage an open discussion where everyone contributes ideas, no matter how outlandish they may seem. This helps you:

• Generate a diverse range of solutions
• Encourage all team members to participate
• Foster creative thinking

When brainstorming, remember to:

• Reserve judgment until the session is over
• Encourage wild ideas
• Combine and improve upon ideas

Root Cause Analysis

For effective problem-solving, identifying the root cause of the issue at hand is crucial. Try these methods:

• 5 Whys : Ask “why” five times to get to the underlying cause.
• Fishbone Diagram : Create a diagram representing the problem and break it down into categories of potential causes.
• Pareto Analysis : Determine the few most significant causes underlying the majority of problems.

SWOT Analysis

SWOT analysis helps you examine the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats related to your problem. To perform a SWOT analysis:

• List your problem’s strengths, such as relevant resources or strong partnerships.
• Identify its weaknesses, such as knowledge gaps or limited resources.
• Explore opportunities, like trends or new technologies, that could help solve the problem.
• Recognize potential threats, like competition or regulatory barriers.

SWOT analysis aids in understanding the internal and external factors affecting the problem, which can help guide your solution.

Mind Mapping

A mind map is a visual representation of your problem and potential solutions. It enables you to organize information in a structured and intuitive manner. To create a mind map:

• Write the problem in the center of a blank page.
• Draw branches from the central problem to related sub-problems or contributing factors.
• Add more branches to represent potential solutions or further ideas.

Mind mapping allows you to visually see connections between ideas and promotes creativity in problem-solving.

Examples of Problem Solving in Various Contexts

In the business world, you might encounter problems related to finances, operations, or communication. Applying problem-solving skills in these situations could look like:

• Identifying areas of improvement in your company’s financial performance and implementing cost-saving measures
• Resolving internal conflicts among team members by listening and understanding different perspectives, then proposing and negotiating solutions
• Streamlining a process for better productivity by removing redundancies, automating tasks, or re-allocating resources

In educational contexts, problem-solving can be seen in various aspects, such as:

• Addressing a gap in students’ understanding by employing diverse teaching methods to cater to different learning styles
• Developing a strategy for successful time management to balance academic responsibilities and extracurricular activities
• Seeking resources and support to provide equal opportunities for learners with special needs or disabilities

Everyday life is full of challenges that require problem-solving skills. Some examples include:

• Overcoming a personal obstacle, such as improving your fitness level, by establishing achievable goals, measuring progress, and adjusting your approach accordingly
• Navigating a new environment or city by researching your surroundings, asking for directions, or using technology like GPS to guide you
• Dealing with a sudden change, like a change in your work schedule, by assessing the situation, identifying potential impacts, and adapting your plans to accommodate the change.
• How to Resolve Employee Conflict at Work [Steps, Tips, Examples]
• How to Write Inspiring Core Values? 5 Steps with Examples
• 30 Employee Feedback Examples (Positive & Negative)

• Enterprise resource planning (ERP)

brainstorming

• Corinne Bernstein

Brainstorming is a group problem-solving method that involves the spontaneous contribution of creative ideas and solutions. This technique requires intensive, freewheeling discussion in which every member of the group is encouraged to think aloud and suggest as many ideas as possible based on their diverse knowledge.

Brainstorming combines an informal approach to problem-solving with lateral thinking, which is a method for developing new concepts to solve problems by looking at them in innovative ways. Some of these ideas can be built into original, creative solutions to a problem, while others can generate additional ideas.

Some experts believe that brainstorming is better than conventional group interaction, which might be hindered by group think. Group think is a phenomenon that occurs when the team’s need for consensus overshadows the judgment of individual group members.

Although group brainstorming is frequently better for generating ideas than normal group problem-solving, several studies have shown that individual brainstorming can produce better ideas than group brainstorming. This can occur because group members pay so much attention to others’ ideas that they forget or do not create their own ideas. Also, groups do not always adhere to good brainstorming practices.

During brainstorming sessions, participants should avoid criticizing or rewarding ideas in order to explore new possibilities and break down incorrect answers. Once the brainstorming session is over, the evaluation session (which includes analysis and discussion of the aired ideas) begins, and solutions can be crafted using conventional means.

Common methods of brainstorming include mind mapping, which involves creating a diagram with a goal or key concept in the center with branches showing subtopics and related ideas; writing down the steps needed to get from Point A to Point B; "teleporting" yourself to a different time and place; putting yourself in other people’s shoes to imagine how they might solve a problem; and "superstorming," or using a hypothetical superpower such as X-ray vision to solve a problem. 

Continue Reading About brainstorming

• Why CEOs should think like children
• More brainstorming techniques to try

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A Problem Solving Method: Brainstorming

Brainstorming is a problem solving technique where a problem is broken down into smaller, more manageable parts to develop different solutions for it. The problem can be anything from what to have for dinner, where to go on vacation or which person in the office is stealing from the communal coffee pot.

To brainstorm a problem, problem solvers gather a group of knowledgeable people about that particular problem and ask them questions about it. They then take all of these answers and try to find common themes among them – usually by drawing diagrams or writing lists – these themes will lead them towards finding a solution to their problem.  Brainstorming is also used to generate ideas, especially those aimed at creative projects such as problem solving or an interface between two parties.

The problem solvers can be anyone from business consultants to CEOs who problem-solve with their own companies to friends trying to decide where they want to go for dinner. It's also used in marketing problem solving, finding new markets for products/services, marketing strategies, and how target audiences will respond (positively or negatively) to certain types of messaging.

A problem solver will break down the problem into smaller ones that are easier to solve, then define problems until there is one left which they have no idea how the problem might solve. This final problem is used as the basis for an answer. The main steps in brainstorming when problem solving include: 

1. Understanding the problem

2. Gathering information about the problem

3. Generating ideas about the problem

4. Evaluating and selecting ideas 

5. Implementing the best idea 

6. Reviewing the results of the brainstorming session

Brainstorming is used in business, problem-solving, marketing, and interface design contexts. It's a problem solving technique that can be used by anyone with a problem to solve, and it's a great way to get a group of people working together to find a solution. When used correctly, brainstorming will lead you towards finding an answer to your problem.

If you want to learn more problem solving skills , you can join IIENSTITU's problem solving skills course . In addition, you can improve your solving skills with free online courses and certifications . Join us today!

1. What Is The Problem Solving Method Of Brainstorming?

2. What Are The Steps of the Brainstorming Process?

What Is The Problem Solving Method Of Brainstorming?

Brainstorming is a problem solving method that allows you to generate ideas in an uncontrolled environment. Unlike other problem-solving methods, brainstorming does not produce effective results if participants can pass judgment on the ideas presented. This problem-solving method is used for all types of problems, ranging from big decisions like moving cities to smaller ones like what gift to buy your friend for their birthday.

The first step in problem solving with brainstorming is getting participants together and introducing them to the issue at hand through a summary or by showing it directly. Participants should then be told that they will be given time, usually two minutes, before being asked to share any thoughts about potential solutions. After this period of silence, participants are asked to share the ideas they came up with, even if they seem entirely ridiculous. The brainstorming method does not allow for any critique or judgment during the idea-sharing. It is important to accept every idea that participants offer and thank them for their input when people finish speaking.

People may use the problem-solving method in various ways depending on what problem you're trying to solve and who your audience is. For example, if you're planning a surprise birthday party for your husband, brainstorming would help you develop gift ideas that he might like and then schedule a celebration that fits his interests without him knowing about it beforehand. If you need to plan out an entire project at work using this problem solving method, brainstorming will help you develop problem-solving strategies and possible solutions.

The problem-solving method can be used for any problem that needs to be solved, even the ones we don't typically think of as such. For example, problem-solving-oriented brainstorming may help you decide which movie to see this weekend or what ingredients to add to make a fantastic dish. It is also advantageous when planning something like a wedding: problem-solving-oriented brainstorming will help determine how many guests will attend and where the ceremony and reception should occur.

The problem-solving method involves everyone affected by whatever problem is being solved so everyone can hear them and their input considered in the decision-making process. This results in much more creative ideas and a higher chance of finding the best solution. Brainstorming is also a problem solving method that can be used for people who are not used to problem solving. This problem solving method is more relaxed than others and allows for mistakes, which can help people feel more comfortable when brainstorming.

Brainstorming is a problem-solving method used in many different fields and for many other purposes. It is essential to keep an open mind when using this problem solving method and accept all ideas that participants offer, no matter how ridiculous they may seem. With enough time and practice, brainstorming can help you find solutions to any problem.

The problem solving method of brainstorming helps us develop potential solutions by getting input from everyone involved in the issue at hand, without judgment. The problem solving method of brainstorming is used for all sorts of problems, depending on who is using it and what problem they are trying to solve. Still, it only involves problem-solving-oriented brainstorming when there is an objective. It can be applied to any issue that needs to be solved and allows people who may not feel comfortable problem solving with other methods to express themselves freely. This problem solving method requires time and practice before you can use it properly. However, once mastered, it creates a creative environment where everyone's input will be considered equally, leading to better results.

What Are The Steps of the Brainstorming Process?

When it comes to problem solving, brainstorming is one of the most popular methods. But what are the steps involved in this process? Here's a look at what you need to do to get the most out of brainstorming:

1. Define the problem. The first step is to define the problem you're trying to solve clearly. It will help you stay focused and ensure that all ideas generated during the brainstorming session are related to the issue at hand.

2. Encourage creativity. The next step is to encourage creativity among your team members. It means giving them permission to think outside the box and develop unconventional solutions.

3. Generate ideas. Once everyone is feeling creative, you can start generating ideas. Don't be afraid to develop wild concepts, as they might lead to more practical solutions. It's also a good idea to create action items that you feel your team could work on for the problem at hand.

4. Refine ideas and select the best option. Once everyone has shared their ideas, it's time to narrow down your choices to the most viable options available. It will give you a good starting point for problem-solving so you can easily create the next steps for each of these action items.

1. What do you think is the best solution for solving a particular problem?

2. How many ideas do you typically come up with during brainstorming sessions? 

3. When should one use brainstorming sessions versus other types of problem-solving methods?

4. Do you find that productivity decreases after completing a brainstorming session?

What are the key factors that contribute to climate change?

Key Factors Contributing to Climate Change

There are several key factors that contribute significantly to climate change. The most significant is the burning of fossil fuels such as coal, oil and natural gas. When fossil fuels are burned, they release greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and methane into the atmosphere. These greenhouse gases trap heat from the sun, causing global temperatures to rise.

Deforestation is another major factor. Trees absorb and store carbon dioxide. When forests are cleared, that stored carbon is released. Deforestation also reduces the number of trees available to remove carbon dioxide from the air. Between 2015 and 2020, the world lost over 4 million hectares of forest per year.

Intensive livestock farming generates significant greenhouse gas emissions. Cows and sheep produce methane as part of their digestive process. Large scale cattle ranching leads to deforestation too. The livestock sector accounts for around 15% of global emissions.

Other contributors are fertilizers containing nitrogen and the burning of biomass. Overall, human activities are responsible for almost all of the increase in greenhouse gases over the last century. To mitigate climate change, we must transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy and prevent further deforestation. We must also reduce emissions from agriculture and other sources.

How does gender inequality manifest in different cultures?

Manifestations of Gender Inequality

Gender inequality refers to unequal treatment or perceptions of individuals based on their gender. This manifests in various ways across cultures. In many cultures, traditional gender roles cast women as caregivers and men as leaders. This leads to inequalities in domestic duties, employment, and positions of authority. For example, in parts of South Asia, women spend much more time on unpaid domestic work than men. In Saudi Arabia, strict laws prohibit women from traveling or working without a male guardian's permission.

Gender discrimination in education also perpetuates inequality. In Afghanistan, girls face barriers to attending school including lack of facilities, child marriage, and Taliban restrictions. Only 37% of Afghan girls complete primary education, compared to 66% of boys. This lack of education limits women's ability to participate in society.

Violence against women is another manifestation of gender inequality. Practices like female genital mutilation in parts of Africa, acid attacks in Southeast Asia, and honor killings in the Middle East target and control women. Up to 38% of murders of women worldwide are committed by intimate partners. Laws and enforcement often fail to protect women.

While many cultures have embedded gender inequalities, increased education for women and girls, activism, and legal protections are working to promote equal rights. Achieving gender equality requires changing long-held biases and practices.

What policies can governments implement to reduce poverty?

Policies to Reduce Poverty

Governments can implement several policies to help reduce poverty. One important policy is to increase access to education. Governments can make primary and secondary education free and compulsory. They can also provide subsidies and scholarships to help low-income students attend college or vocational schools. Education gives people the skills needed to obtain better-paying jobs.

Another policy is to create more jobs and improve wages. Governments can invest in infrastructure and green technology to create construction and manufacturing jobs. They can set higher minimum wages and strengthen unions to improve pay. Policies that support small businesses can also lead to more job creation.

Governments can also strengthen social safety net programs. They can provide cash assistance, food stamps, and housing vouchers to help families meet their basic needs. Healthcare subsidies can make insurance more affordable. Increasing funding for childcare, disability, and unemployment benefits further aids those struggling financially.

Lastly, governments can reform tax policies to ease the burden on lower-income households. They can make tax systems more progressive by increasing taxes on the wealthy. Tax credits like the Earned Income Tax Credit can supplement wages for workers. Reducing regressive payroll and sales taxes helps increase take-home pay.

Implementing a mix of education, job creation, safety net, and tax reform policies can significantly reduce poverty. A comprehensive approach addresses both the symptoms and root causes of financial hardship for low-income families and individuals.

What are some examples of effective brainstorming techniques for problem solving?

Brainstorming techniques for problem solving.

Brainstorming is a creative thinking process that generates many ideas to solve a problem. Effective brainstorming techniques encourage people to come up with as many solutions as possible, without judging or filtering ideas initially. This fosters an environment where people feel comfortable sharing unconventional or outlandish solutions that can spark innovative approaches. There are several techniques that can facilitate effective brainstorming sessions.

Individual Brainstorming

Individual brainstorming involves people generating ideas independently before sharing with the group. This allows time for private reflection without influences from others’ opinions. Individuals can freely organize thoughts and build on previous ideas. It prevents prematurely dismissing solutions due to groupthink. Individual brainstorming encourages people to fully develop their own concepts before introducing them to the group.

Round-Robin Brainstorming

The round-robin approach gathers individuals in a group and takes turns sharing ideas one at a time. This gives everyone equal opportunity to contribute. It prevents vocal participants from dominating the discussion. The structured format helps introverts and passive thinkers engage more actively. Individuals can develop on previous ideas or introduce unrelated solutions. Including an object to designate the speaker prevents people from interrupting the current contributor.

Silent Brainstorming

Silent brainstorming sessions utilize writing to generate ideas. Participants silently reflect and write down solutions individually. This removes influence from others’ opinions and encourages independent thinking. It gives introverts space to formulate concepts without pressure to verbalize immediately. Silent brainstorming sessions can then gather all contributions and collectively review the ideas generated. This technique encourages equal participation and develops a robust list of options to evaluate.

Online Brainstorming

Online brainstorming uses technology like video conferencing, shared documents, or brainstorming apps to generate ideas remotely. This provides flexibility for people in different locations to contribute. Online tools allow participants to add ideas simultaneously in a shared platform. This builds on other solutions and spurs new connections in real-time. Online brainstorming often needs more structure and moderation to keep the session focused and productive.

Effective brainstorming encourages creative thinking from all participants. Using individual ideation, round-robin sharing, silent writing, or online tools can produce quality solutions. Keeping an open, judgment-free environment allows innovative ideas to emerge. Evaluating and refining solutions comes after generating an extensive list of options through brainstorming.

How can brainstorming sessions be structured to generate the most creative ideas for solving problems?

Generating creative ideas through effective brainstorming.

Brainstorming is a common technique used to produce creative solutions to problems. Well-structured brainstorming sessions allow groups to maximize their ideation potential. Several methods exist for running effective brainstorming meetings that foster imaginative thinking.

Establishing Ground Rules

Groups should begin by outlining guidelines for the session. Critical judgment of ideas must be avoided to encourage free thinking. Participants should be told to offer any idea that comes to mind, no matter how unrealistic. Quantity of concepts is more important than quality at this stage. Building on others' suggestions is also permitted. All ideas should be captured by a recorder.

Priming Creativity

Simple warm-up exercises can stimulate creative thinking before tackling the main issue. For example, unrelated challenges get people to think outside the box. Allocating a few minutes for individuals to brainstorm alone also primes the pump for innovative ideas.

Taking Turns

A round robin approach allows everyone to voice their ideas before others offer additional suggestions. This prevents a few people from dominating the conversation. It also encourages quieter team members to participate. Periodically cycling back to people inspires new concepts.

Changing Perspectives

Seeing things from different viewpoints sparks imagination. Participants might be asked to conceptualize solutions from the perspective of various stakeholders. Alternately, they can brainstorm while pretending to be a famous inventor or eccentric CEO.

Introducing Stimuli

Introducing various stimuli during the session gets creativity flowing. Listening to music, drawing pictures, or using evocative imagery prompts new connections. Having tactile objects to manipulate also provides inspiration.

Taking Breaks

Taking short breaks periodically re-energizes participants’ minds. During this time, they can engage in relaxing activities like stretching, snacking, or casual conversation. Breaks allow ideas to percolate further.

Reviewing and Refining

After listing all ideas without judgment, the group should review the options and start prioritizing them. Now constructive analysis can shape the solutions. The most promising concepts can be refined and developed. This process turns creative ideas into practical solutions.

Following basic guidelines for effective brainstorming greatly enhances the quantity and originality of concepts generated. Well-run sessions allow teams to harness their collective imagination to devise innovative solutions to problems.

In what ways can brainstorming be used as a tool for collaborative problem solving in an academic setting?

Brainstorming as a Collaborative Problem Solving Tool

Brainstorming is a technique that can be highly effective for collaborative problem solving in academic settings. By bringing together a diverse group of individuals, brainstorming allows for the generation of creative ideas and solutions through the cross-pollination of perspectives and expertise. There are several key ways that brainstorming facilitates collaborative problem solving for students and educators.

Generating Ideas

The primary function of brainstorming is to produce a broad range of ideas, unhindered by judgement or debate. Every participant is encouraged to think freely and suggest as many ideas as possible, no matter how outlandish. This allows the group to maximize its creative potential and identify innovative solutions that may not have emerged through conventional thinking. The sheer volume of ideas generated through brainstorming increases the chances that the group will identify promising solutions.

Incorporating Diverse Viewpoints

Brainstorming brings together people with diverse backgrounds, skill sets, and perspectives. This diversity is a valuable asset when collaboratively solving complex problems. A broad range of expertise allows the group to approach the problem from different angles. Varying viewpoints give rise to fresh insights and prevent groupthink. By incorporating input from individuals with different modes of thinking, brainstorming provides a more holistic understanding of the problem.

Building on Ideas

An effective brainstorming session encourages participants to build on one another's ideas. One idea can spur new associations and directions in creative thinking. Hearing others' ideas may inspire participants to come up with innovative solutions or find clever ways to improve on ideas. This synergistic effect of feeding off one another's ideas is what makes brainstorming a truly collaborative endeavor. The result is a set of solutions that no individual could have developed alone.

Promoting Egalitarian Participation

Brainstorming creates a level playing field where all group members can contribute equally. Status differences and hierarchies are set aside as participants share ideas freely in an open forum. This helps ensure that no single voice or viewpoint dominates the discussion. Bringing different group members into the collaborative process broadens the array of ideas and allows for unique contributions from all participants. By giving everyone an equal chance to brainstorm ideas, the group gains access to perspectives that may otherwise go unheard.

In summary, brainstorming leverages the diversity of perspectives, builds on creative associations, and promotes egalitarian idea generation. This makes it a flexible tool for collaborative problem solving within student project teams, faculty research groups, interdisciplinary task forces, and other academic settings requiring innovation and cooperation.

What are some examples of effective brainstorming methods used in teaching?

Brainstorming is a common technique used by teachers to generate creative ideas and engage students in active thinking. Some examples of effective brainstorming methods used in teaching include:

Think-Pair-Share

In this method, students are first asked to think individually about a topic or question posed by the teacher. They are given a minute or two to jot down their ideas. Next, students pair up and share their thoughts with a partner. Finally, pairs share their ideas with the larger class group. This technique allows all students to participate and builds on individual reflection.

Roundtable Brainstorming

Students are divided into small groups of 4-6 students. Each group sits around a table or cluster of desks. One student starts by sharing an idea, then going around the circle each student contributes. Groups can record ideas on chart paper or digitally on a shared document. This method enables collaboration and equal participation.

Brainwriting

In this silent method, each student has a sheet of paper or digital document. Students write down their ideas individually for 2-3 minutes. Then, they pass their paper to the student on the left. Students read the new paper and add additional ideas. This rotation continues several times. Brainwriting allows all students to actively contribute ideas.

Mind Mapping

Students visually organize and connect ideas around a central topic. Main themes branch out with related sub-topics and details. Mind maps can be created individually or as a class using a projector, whiteboard, or large paper. This activity promotes critical thinking and visual learning.

Brainstorming with Movement

The class stands in a circle or scattered around the room. The teacher asks a question then tosses a ball to a student, who shares an idea before tossing to someone else. Students can also move around the room gathering ideas on post-it notes from classmates. Incorporating physical movement engages kinesthetic learners.

In summary, effective brainstorming in teaching provides opportunities for individual reflection, collaboration with peers, whole-class participation, and movement. Varying brainstorming formats allows teachers to accommodate different learning styles and keep students actively engaged in the learning process.

How can teachers utilize brainstorming techniques to engage students in active learning?

Brainstorming Techniques for Active Student Engagement

Teachers can utilize a variety of brainstorming techniques to get students actively engaged in learning. Brainstorming is a collaborative activity that encourages students to come up with ideas and build on each other's contributions. When students brainstorm together, they take ownership of their learning and get invested in the topics being covered. Here are some effective brainstorming methods teachers can use to promote active participation:

The think-pair-share technique provides an easy way to get all students involved. First, the teacher poses a question or problem and gives students a minute to think independently. Next, students pair up and share their ideas with a partner. Finally, partners share their responses with the whole class. This simple structure gives every student a chance to formulate ideas and voice their thoughts.

Round Robin

In a round robin brainstorm, students go around in a circle sharing ideas. The teacher poses a prompt, and then each student takes a turn adding an idea. Students can pass if needed, but then have a second chance once everyone has gone. A round robin gets many perspectives and keeps all students engaged as they listen and build on their classmates' contributions.

Brainwriting is a good option for shy or hesitant students. Rather than calling out ideas, students write down their thoughts and pass them around. Teachers can use brainwriting to have students list ideas individually, then combine and categorize the ideas as a group. This allows for more equal participation and thoughtful responses.

Online Boards

Digital whiteboards like Padlet or Jamboard provide an online space for students to simultaneously brainstorm ideas. Teachers can create a board for a prompt, then have students add virtual sticky notes with their thoughts. This allows for rapid collection of many ideas that can be displayed, categorized, and prioritized.

Concept Mapping

Concept mapping is a visual brainstorming activity. Students add ideas to a map, connecting them with lines and branches to show relationships. This helps students organize and analyze information to see patterns and themes. Concept mapping activates critical thinking as students categorize concepts and identify connections.

Brainstorming brings several benefits that support active learning. It gets students engaged right away, rather than passively listening to a lecture. It allows teachers to rapidly assess student knowledge and ideas. Most importantly, it empowers students to take charge of their own learning. Implementing regular brainstorming provides a pathway to student-driven education.

In what ways can brainstorming activities encourage creative thinking and problem-solving skills among students?

Encouraging Creative Thinking and Problem-Solving through Brainstorming

Brainstorming activities can be highly effective for developing creative thinking and problem-solving skills in students. Brainstorming involves coming up with as many ideas as possible in a short time period, without judging or analyzing the ideas. This creates an environment where students feel comfortable sharing unconventional or "out there" ideas. Several aspects of brainstorming encourage creative thinking.

First, the rapid pace of brainstorming sessions forces students to think on their feet. They must tap into their knowledge and imagination to quickly produce many ideas. This pushes them outside their normal thought patterns. The sheer volume of ideas generated also increases the chances that original, creative ideas will emerge.

Additionally, since there is no criticism during brainstorming, students feel free to take risks. They do not have to worry about their ideas being judged as silly or unrealistic. This lack of criticism promotes creative leaps. Students can make connections between remote ideas and build off each other's ideas in new ways.

Brainstorming also fosters collaborative creativity. Hearing their peers' ideas prompts students to consider a topic from different angles. Combining multiple viewpoints allows for innovative solutions. Interacting as a team strengthens creativity and idea generation.

When applied to problem-solving, brainstorming removes the pressure students often feel to come up with "the right answer." Generating volumes of ideas allows them to explore many possible solutions. This pushes them to think broadly rather than rigidly focusing on obvious or familiar approaches. Evaluating multiple options encourages critical analysis.

Overall, the free-flowing, non-judgmental format of brainstorming gives students license to tap into their creativity. It exposes them to diverse perspectives and unlocks innovative thinking. By promoting out-of-the-box brainpower, brainstorming readies students to be imaginative problem-solvers.

What are some key elements of effective brainstorming?

Generating Many Ideas One of the most important aspects of effective brainstorming is generating a large quantity of ideas. The goal is to come up with as many ideas as possible without judging or filtering them initially. This allows people to think expansively and tap into their creativity. It's easy to dismiss ideas prematurely before fully exploring their potential. Holding off on evaluation and giving oneself permission to think freely leads to more ideas.

Building on Others' Ideas Brainstorming is often done in groups precisely so participants can build on one another's ideas. When one person shares an idea, it can spark new associations and directions in others. This synergistic effect allows the group to generate more creative solutions together than any one individual could alone. It's important to actively listen to teammates and use their ideas to prompt new ones.

Deferring Judgment To maximize idea generation, evaluation and criticism should be deferred during the brainstorming process. Prematurely rejecting ideas hinders creativity. Participants should feel comfortable sharing any idea without fear of judgment. Analysis comes later when ideas are winnowed down. The initial phase should foster an open, noncritical environment.

Allowing Wild Ideas Some of the most creative ideas seem outlandish at first. Unique associations and unexpected directions sometimes lead to innovative solutions. During brainstorming, no idea is too crazy or impossible. In fact, wild ideas often spur more possibilities by opening up new lines of thinking. Imagination should be encouraged, not restrained.

Focusing on Quantity The goal of brainstorming is to maximize the number of ideas generated. The assumption is that quantity will lead to higher quality solutions. A large pool of ideas provides more options to draw from. Even proposed solutions that don't work can stimulate different approaches. Setting a numeric target for ideas can help participants focus on volume.

Recording All Ideas All ideas should be captured during brainstorming, usually by writing them down or typing them. This prevents good ideas from being forgotten or lost. It also shows participants that all contributions are valued rather than judged or filtered prematurely. Recording provides a master list to evaluate later when identifying the most promising solutions.

How can brainstorming be used to generate creative solutions to problems?

Using brainstorming to generate creative solutions.

Brainstorming is a creative thinking technique that can be used by groups or individuals to generate a broad range of ideas for solving problems. The key principles of brainstorming are:

Generate as many ideas as possible - the focus is on quantity, not quality.

Withhold criticism and evaluation of ideas - this comes later in the creative process.

Build on others' ideas - use associations to spark new ideas.

Encourage wild and exaggerated ideas - this can lead to more creative solutions.

Brainstorming takes advantage of the fact that our minds make free associations. One idea can spark another idea or trigger a new connection. By separating the idea generation from the evaluation, we create an environment where people feel free to think creatively.

There are some guidelines for conducting effective brainstorming sessions:

Have a diverse group - different perspectives give more ideas.

Frame the problem clearly - so everyone understands the goal.

Set a time limit - short sessions spark fast idea generation.

Record all ideas - capture everything so it can be reviewed later.

Establish ground rules - like encouraging wild ideas and prohibiting criticism.

Individual brainstorming can also be effective. Some techniques include free writing, mind mapping, or setting a short time limit to list ideas. The key is to let the mind wander freely and make new connections.

After brainstorming, the ideas need to be evaluated and refined. Look for themes and patterns. Combine related ideas into stronger solutions. Identify the ideas that are most creative, practical, and aligned with the goals. By starting with a broad set of possibilities, brainstorming gives us more options to choose from to create the best solutions.

Brainstorming is commonly used in business, but has many other applications as well. Teachers can use it to develop engaging lessons. Engineers can use it to design products. Writers can use it to overcome writer's block. Nonprofits can use it to create programs that better serve their communities. Whenever we need original ideas and creative solutions, brainstorming is a valuable technique.

The key benefits of brainstorming are that it pushes us to think more broadly, tap into our creativity, leverage group knowledge, and arrive at innovative solutions. By capturing a wide range of ideas before evaluating them, brainstorming lays the groundwork for overcoming challenges with imaginative thinking.

What techniques can improve the productivity of a brainstorming session?

Brainstorming is a common technique used to generate creative ideas and solutions for problems. While brainstorming sessions can lead to innovative thinking, they can also be unproductive if not facilitated properly. There are several techniques that can be used to improve the productivity of brainstorming sessions.

Setting Ground Rules

It is important to establish some basic ground rules at the start of a brainstorming session. Participants should be encouraged to think freely and suggest as many ideas as possible, no matter how unrealistic they may seem. Judgment and analysis of ideas should be withheld during the brainstorming process. Setting these expectations helps participants feel comfortable sharing unconventional concepts.

Having a Facilitator

A facilitator can help guide the brainstorming session. The facilitator should create a relaxed environment, keep the discussion on track, make sure every participant has a chance to contribute, and set time limits for activities. They may also record ideas and encourage participants to build on each other's suggestions.

Using Brainstorming Techniques

Certain techniques can help generate more creative ideas during brainstorming. For example, providing thought-provoking questions, prompts or images to stimulate ideas. Using methods like listing, free association, or mind mapping to explore ideas. Allowing time for individual reflection and small group discussions before sharing ideas with the full group. Alternating between divergent thinking to expand ideas and convergent thinking to refine ideas.

Leveraging Technology

Technology tools can facilitate brainstorming and capture ideas. Using online whiteboards allows simultaneous visual idea mapping. Collaborative documents make it easy to co-create and organize ideas. File sharing and cloud-based applications give access to inspiration materials. Virtual sticky notes enable quick capture of thoughts. These tools boost productivity by streamlining the brainstorming process.

With the right facilitation, techniques and technology, brainstorming sessions can lead to innovative breakthroughs. A productive brainstorming environment allows people to think expansively, build on ideas collectively and capture inspiration effectively.

What are some effective brainstorming techniques that can help students generate ideas?

Brainstorming techniques for students.

Brainstorming is a creative thinking process that helps students generate many ideas. Effective brainstorming techniques get students engaged and allow them to build on each other's ideas. This leads to quality ideas that can be used for writing assignments, projects, and more. There are several techniques students can use to brainstorm effectively.

Freewriting

Freewriting involves writing continuously for a set time period, such as 5-10 minutes. Students should write whatever comes to mind about the topic without stopping. This helps overcome writer’s block and tap into creativity. It’s important not to edit or judge the writing. Freewriting brings ideas to the surface that can then be refined.

Listing is simply writing down all ideas that come to mind about a topic. There is no need to elaborate or explain the ideas. The goal is to generate as many ideas or keywords related to the topic as possible. Listing works well individually or in groups, with students contributing their ideas to one master list.

Mind mapping is a visual technique where students create a diagram of ideas around a central topic. Main themes and ideas branch off the central topic, with sub-topics branching off of those. This spatial arrangement helps students see connections between ideas and stimulates new thoughts.

Group Brainstorming

Group brainstorming allows students to build on each other’s ideas. Ground rules help ensure it’s productive, like avoiding criticism and encouraging wild ideas. Taking turns and giving everyone a chance to contribute is key. Groups can brainstorm verbally or by writing ideas down. A recorder can document the ideas generated.

Using a mix of individual and group techniques engages different learning styles. Brainstorming works best when students focus on quantity over quality of ideas. The goal is to generate a large pool of ideas to select from later. With practice, brainstorming can help students become more flexible, creative thinkers.

How can teachers encourage creative brainstorming in the classroom?

Encouraging creative brainstorming in the classroom.

Brainstorming is a creative thinking technique that involves coming up with as many ideas as possible around a specific topic or question. Teachers can utilize brainstorming in the classroom to engage students, spark creativity, and generate a wide range of ideas and perspectives. There are several methods teachers can use to encourage effective brainstorming.

First, teachers should explain the brainstorming process and set expectations. Clarify that the goal is to produce a large quantity of ideas without any judgment or critique. Encourage students to think broadly and suggest any idea that comes to mind, no matter how outlandish. Frame brainstorming as an opportunity to be creative and innovative.

Second, teachers can use brainstorming prompts or questions that are open-ended yet focused on a specific topic. Narrow prompts give students a direction while still allowing for imagination. Asking "how might we..." questions also sparks divergent thinking. For example, "How might we redesign the cafeteria to make lunchtime more enjoyable?"

Third, teachers should encourage equal participation from all students during brainstorming. Shyer students can be drawn out by using think-pair-share techniques. Calling on students randomly also prevents any one student from dominating. Writing down all ideas anonymously is another way to get broad participation.

Fourth, teachers can set a fun, energetic tone during brainstorming sessions. Upbeat music playing in the background promotes creativity. Teachers can also use timers to encourage fast-paced idea generation. Turning brainstorming into a competition or game, like seeing which group can come up with the most ideas, also engages students.

Fifth, it is important for teachers to withhold any judgment or criticism during the brainstorming process. Every idea should be welcomed. Teachers should encourage students to build on one another's ideas, but there should be no discussion of quality until later. Evaluating ideas comes after brainstorming.

By explaining the brainstorming process, using focused prompts, encouraging broad participation, setting an energetic tone, and withholding judgment, teachers can promote creative and effective brainstorming in the classroom. The variety of perspectives and unfiltered ideas will benefit students as they tackle issues and challenges.

What types of brainstorming activities work well for students just learning this skill?

Brainstorming activities for beginners.

Brainstorming is an important skill for students to learn. It involves coming up with as many ideas as possible on a topic without judging or filtering them. Some effective brainstorming activities for students just learning this skill include free writing, listing, group brainstorming, using prompts, and mind mapping.

Free Writing

Free writing involves setting a timer for 5-10 minutes and writing continuously about a topic. This helps students generate lots of ideas without self-editing. Teachers can provide thought-provoking questions to guide the free writing.

Listing is a simple brainstorming technique where students make a bulleted list of words or phrases related to the topic. Listing works well individually or in groups. Teachers can have students list for a set time to encourage volume of ideas.

Group brainstorming allows students to build on each other's ideas. Teachers can have students share ideas round robin style or sticky note ideas on charts. It helps expose students to diverse perspectives.

Using Prompts

Prompts like photos, quotes, and questions can stimulate students' thinking in new directions. Teachers can provide a variety of thought-provoking prompts to unlock ideas.

Mind mapping involves noting a central idea and branching out related ideas. This visual approach helps students see connections. Mind mapping works for individual and group brainstorming.

The key with any brainstorming activity is to defer judgment and go for quantity and diversity of ideas. Teachers should encourage an open, playful approach. The more students practice brainstorming, the more adept they will become at this valuable skill.

What are the benefits of individual brainstorming?

Generating Many Ideas One of the main benefits of individual brainstorming is that it allows a person to generate many ideas without being influenced or interrupted by others. When brainstorming alone, a person can freely think through and explore an issue from multiple angles and perspectives. This leads to coming up with a large quantity and wide variety of ideas. Individual brainstorming gives a person the time and space to make connections between concepts and follow trains of thought without external distractions.

No Evaluation Another advantage of individual brainstorming is that there is no pressure to evaluate ideas as they emerge. In a group setting, some ideas may be dismissed prematurely before they are fully explored. When brainstorming alone, a person can record any and all ideas without judging them. This separation of the idea generation and evaluation stages allows for greater creativity. Unique, unconventional ideas have a chance to surface when evaluation is deferred.

Convenience Individual brainstorming is often more convenient than group brainstorming. It can be done at any time and place without having to coordinate schedules with others. This makes it easy to incorporate brainstorming sessions into a regular work routine. Individual brainstorming also avoids potential conflicts and complications that can arise when putting together a group. A person can brainstorm productively at their own pace without having to compromise.

No Social Pressures Brainstorming alone eliminates social pressures that can interfere with idea generation in groups. There is no need to worry about judgment or rejection of ideas by others. Shy or introverted individuals may feel more comfortable brainstorming independently rather than in groups. Without the fear of embarrassment or ridicule, a person can be more imaginative and think freely. Individual brainstorming provides a safe space to explore bold, unusual ideas.

Focus Individual brainstorming allows a person to maintain focus on the topic at hand. In group settings there can be distractions, side conversations, and tangents that divert attention and disrupt the flow of ideas. When brainstorming alone, a person can concentrate fully on the brainstorming goal without external interference. This sustained focus facilitates making connections between ideas and drilling down on concepts more deeply.

How can I apply individual brainstorming techniques?

Applying Individual Brainstorming Techniques

Individual brainstorming is a creative thinking technique that can generate many ideas by allowing one person to think freely. When applying individual brainstorming, it is important to create an environment conducive to free-flowing thought. This can be done by finding a comfortable, quiet space free from distractions. It is also helpful to have writing tools available to capture ideas as they arise.

To begin an individual brainstorming session, first identify the problem or topic you want to generate ideas about. Write this down so you can stay focused. Next, set a time limit, usually about 15-30 minutes. This will help drive focused idea generation.

During the session, let your mind wander freely related to the topic. Write down any idea that comes to mind, without judging or analyzing the idea. The key is to record as many ideas as possible. If you get stuck, try prompting further ideas by asking yourself questions like "How can I improve this?" or "What if I changed this?".

After the timed session, review all the ideas you wrote down. Now you can analyze and prioritize the ideas to select the best ones to pursue. For example, you may choose ideas that are the most unique, feasible, or aligned with your goals.

Applying techniques like individual brainstorming can lead to creative solutions and innovations. The free-flowing ideation lets you tap into your imagination. By suspending judgment during idea generation, you give your creative mind more space to make connections. The result can be fresh, unconventional ideas. With focused practice, individual brainstorming can become a productive part of your problem-solving process.

What steps should I follow when using individual brainstorming?

Individual brainstorming is a creative thinking technique that allows a person to generate ideas independently. This method can help stimulate new thoughts and perspectives without influence from others. When using individual brainstorming, there are several steps to follow:

Preparation

First, clearly define the problem, topic, or issue you want to brainstorm. Understanding the scope and parameters will focus your thoughts. Gather any background information that may spark ideas. Have the necessary supplies available like a notepad, whiteboard, recorder, etc. Set a time limit for your brainstorming session.

Idea Generation

During the session, focus solely on coming up with ideas. Write down every thought that comes to mind, without judging or analyzing. Let your mind wander freely through associations, combinations, translations, etc. Build on ideas by finding relationships and modifying concepts. Capture any insight or inspiration in the moment. Silence self-criticism and edit later. Set a goal for the number of ideas to create momentum.

Organization

After the timed session, review all the ideas generated. Group related concepts together. Look for themes and patterns. Eliminate duplicates. Refine ideas by adding detail and merging overlapping thoughts. Rank ideas by criteria like feasibility, novelty, and alignment with goals. Prioritize the strongest ideas for further development. Discard impractical or irrelevant notions.

With the filtered list, critically analyze each idea. Determine pros, cons, and potential obstacles. Look for ways to improve upon ideas. Identify those that align best with objectives. Select the top ideas to pursue further. Consider testing concepts quickly through low-cost experiments. Save unused ideas in case they become relevant later.

Following this deliberate process stimulates creative thinking and produces promising new ideas through individual brainstorming. Separating idea generation from evaluation allows unconstrained ideation. Preparation, organization, and evaluation then transform raw concepts into viable solutions to pursue.

What are the key steps involved in reverse brainstorming?

Reverse brainstorming is a creative thinking technique that involves working backwards from a goal or desired outcome to generate ideas. There are several key steps involved in conducting an effective reverse brainstorming session:

Define the Goal

The first step is to clearly define the goal or desired outcome you want to achieve. This gives the reverse brainstorming process a specific focus and direction. For example, the goal could be developing a new product, improving an existing process, or solving a particular problem.

Identify Obstacles and Barriers

Once the goal is defined, the next step is to identify potential obstacles, issues, or barriers that could prevent you from achieving the goal. The aim is to think of all the things that could possibly go wrong or get in the way of the desired outcome.

Generate Ideas to Overcome Obstacles

With the obstacles and barriers identified, the third step is to generate ideas and solutions for overcoming them. Approach this step with creativity and an open mindset. The aim is to develop strategies, processes, and innovations that could help overcome the identified obstacles to reach the goal.

Refine and Prioritize Ideas

The fourth step involves analyzing and refining the ideas generated in the previous step. Look for ways to combine or improve upon the ideas. Then prioritize the most promising and innovative solutions. Focus on the ideas that seem most likely to overcome the identified barriers.

Develop an Implementation Plan

The final step is to develop an action plan for implementing the best ideas from the session. Determine what resources are needed, who will be responsible for each task, and timelines for rolling out the solutions. This provides a roadmap for applying the output of the reverse brainstorming session.

In summary, reverse brainstorming fosters creative problem solving by working backward from goals to identify and overcome obstacles. Defining the goal, identifying barriers, generating solutions, refining ideas, and developing an implementation plan are the key steps in this productive group thinking technique.

How can reverse brainstorming be used to generate innovative ideas?

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Brainstorming is a common technique used to generate creative ideas and solutions. It involves coming up with as many ideas as possible in a short period of time, without judging or analyzing the ideas. Brainstorming taps into a group's collective knowledge and imagination to explore possibilities and alternatives. It encourages people to think freely and suggest any idea that comes to mind, including unconventional or outlandish ideas. Studies show that brainstorming in groups leads to more creative ideas than individuals working alone.

During a brainstorming session, all ideas are welcomed. The goal is to defer judgment and stimulate the flow of ideas. Participants can build on each other's ideas, combining and improving them. One idea can spark another creative connection. Capturing all the ideas provides a large pool of options to draw from. After the brainstorming, the ideas can be analyzed and the most promising solutions identified. Setting a time limit creates a sense of urgency that motivates quick idea generation.

Brainstorming brings together people with diverse backgrounds who can contribute different perspectives. This diversity of experience and knowledge leads to more innovative outcomes. When group members feel psychologically safe to share unconventional ideas without fear of judgment, more creativity emerges. Laughter and humor can foster an open, playful environment that sparks new insights and connections.

Following are some tips for effective brainstorming: Ask open-ended questions to get ideas flowing. Encourage wild and exaggerated ideas. Build on others' ideas. Set a time limit to spur quick thinking. Defer judgment and avoid criticizing ideas during the brainstorm. Capture every idea by writing or drawing them. Appoint someone to record the ideas. Changing locations can stimulate creative thinking. The random mixing of ideas and cross-pollination often produces the most innovative results.

In summary, brainstorming provides an inclusive environment for imaginative idea generation. By leveraging group knowledge and promoting unconventional solutions, brainstorming can lead to innovative outcomes and creative problem solving. The free flow of ideas unhindered by judgment is key to tapping the collective creativity of the group. Evaluation comes later. The synergy of the group, cross-fertilization of perspectives, and spontaneous sparks of insight give brainstorming its power to develop new, original solutions.

What techniques are most effective for brainstorming ideas in a group setting?

Brainstorming techniques for groups.

Brainstorming is a creative technique to generate ideas in a group. It involves suggesting as many ideas as possible without judging them. Effective brainstorming results in a large number of creative ideas. There are several techniques that can improve brainstorming effectiveness in a group setting.

No Criticism

The most important rule in brainstorming is no criticism of ideas. Judgment and analysis at this stage stops idea flow. All ideas should be welcomed. Evaluation comes later. Members must feel comfortable suggesting unusual ideas without fear of criticism.

Encourage Wild Ideas

Wild and exaggerated ideas can lead to creative solutions. Members should be encouraged to think outside the box. Unusual suggestions may spark others to improve on them. Impossible ideas can lead to practical solutions. Welcoming all ideas sets a creative tone.

Build on Other Ideas

Members should be encouraged to build on each other's ideas. This piggyback effect stimulates the group's imagination. Combining and improving ideas leads to even better solutions. Building on others' ideas brings synergy to the group.

Record All Ideas

All ideas should be visible to the group. A whiteboard, flipchart or digital doc allows real-time recording. This encourages members to keep suggesting ideas when they can see them accumulate. Visible recording also enables combining and improving ideas.

Set a Time Limit

A time limit creates a sense of urgency. Members focus on quickly suggesting many ideas instead of elaborating on them. Short 5-10 minute bursts allow rapid fire brainstorming. Time limits keep the session fast-paced and dynamic.

Stay Focused

The brainstorming session should focus on a single, clearly defined issue. Straying from the topic wastes time and dilutes ideas. The leader should re-direct the group if focus is lost. A visible reminder of the issue keeps the group on track.

Using these techniques will produce a wealth of creative options. The ideas can then be analyzed to select the best solutions for implementation. Effective group brainstorming sessions lead to innovation.

How do creative thinkers generate and develop brainstorming ideas?

Generating Brainstorming Ideas Creative thinkers use various techniques to generate initial brainstorming ideas. One approach is free association, where thinkers spontaneously shout out any ideas that come to mind related to the topic without judging or filtering. This encourages divergent thinking and gets past mental blocks. Another technique is making forced connections between the topic and unrelated subjects, which can yield unexpected insights. Thinkers may also gather existing ideas by researching what others have already done. Finally, changing physical and mental perspectives, such as moving to a new location or imagining being someone else, can stimulate new ideas.

Developing Brainstorming Ideas Once creative thinkers have generated initial ideas through brainstorming, they use various strategies to develop the most promising ones. A common technique is to combine ideas together into new hybrid concepts. Building on each other's ideas in a collaborative group setting often produces fresh perspectives. Thinkers also try to find the weaknesses in initial ideas to improve and strengthen them. Setting the ideas aside for a time before revisiting them allows for incubation, yielding natural enhancements. Experimenting with taking ideas to extremes or reversing them also stretches thinking in new directions. Overall, creative thinkers iterate on brainstorming by playing with ideas, testing them, and bouncing them off others.

Assessing Brainstorming Ideas After generating and developing a set of brainstormed ideas, creative thinkers assess the results to identify the solutions with the most potential. They analyze ideas against the goals and criteria of the problem to gauge alignment. Thinkers also get feedback from others, like colleagues, experts, or target users, to help determine the best directions. Prototyping or testing out some ideas on a small scale is another way creative thinkers evaluate brainstorming results. The most promising ideas are those that are original, useful, and feasible to implement. With assessment, creative thinkers determine which brainstorming ideas merit further energy and resources.

Selecting the Best Ideas The final step is to select the top ideas from the brainstorming process for implementation. Creative thinkers compare the pros and cons of the final options. They combine complementary ideas and refine details to strengthen the solutions. Budget, resources, and other constraints are considered to focus on executable ideas. The solutions are prioritized based on which have the greatest potential for impact and success. This narrowing process requires making tough choices to bring the most promising brainstormed ideas to fruition.

In summary, creative thinkers have many techniques for generating ideas through brainstorming, developing the most promising ones, assessing them against goals, and selecting the best to act on. With iteration, collaboration, and evaluation, brainstorming enables thinkers to produce innovative solutions to complex problems.

SHe is a graduate of Akdeniz University, Department of Business Administration. She graduated from the university with a faculty degree. It has contributed to its environment with its social responsibility project. She writes articles about business and its fields.

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Problem-Solving Techniques and Tips (That Actually Work)

June 14, 2022 - 10 min read

Solving complex problems may be difficult but it doesn't have to be excruciating. You just need the right frame of mind and a process for untangling the problem at hand.

Luckily for you, there are plenty of techniques available to solve whatever problems come at you in the workplace.

When faced with a doozy of a problem, where do you start? And what problem-solving techniques can you use right now that can help you make good decisions?

Today's post will give you tips and techniques for solving complex problems so you can untangle any complication like an expert.

How many steps are there in problem-solving?

At its core, problem-solving is a methodical four-step process. You may even recall these steps from when you were first introduced to the Scientific Method.

• First, you must define the problem . What is its cause? What are the signs there's a problem at all?
• Next, you identify various options for solutions. What are some good ideas to solve this?
• Then, evaluate your options and choose from among them. What is the best option to solve the problem? What's the easiest option? How should you prioritize?
• Finally, implement the chosen solution . Does it solve the problem? Is there another option you need to try?

When applying problem-solving techniques, you will be using a variation of these steps as your foundation.

Takeaway: Before you can solve a problem, seek to understand it fully.

Creative problem-solving techniques

Time to get creative! You might think this will just be a list of out-of-the-box ways to brainstorm ideas. Not exactly.

Creative problem solving (CPS) is actually a formal process formulated by Sidney Parnes and Alex Faickney Osborn , who is thought of as the father of traditional brainstorming (and the "O" in famous advertising agency BBDO).

Their creative problem solving process emphasizes several things, namely:

• Separate ideation from evaluation . When you brainstorm creative ideas, have a separate time for writing it all down. Focus on generating lots of ideas. Don't prioritize or evaluate them until everything is captured.
• Judging will shut it down . Nothing stops the flow of creative ideas faster than judging them on the spot. Wait until the brainstorming is over before you evaluate.
• Restate problems as questions . It's easier to entice a group into thinking of creative ideas when challenges are stated as open-ended questions.
• Use "Yes and" to expand ideas . Here's one of the basic tenets of improv comedy. It's way too easy to shut down and negate ideas by using the word "but" (i.e. "But I think this is better..."). Avoid this at all costs. Instead, expand on what was previously introduced by saying "Yes, and..." to keep ideas flowing and evolving.

Takeaway: When brainstorming solutions, generate ideas first by using questions and building off of existing ideas. Do all evaluating and judging later.

Problem-solving tips from psychology

If you take a look at the history of problem-solving techniques in psychology, you'll come across a wide spectrum of interesting ideas that could be helpful.

Take it from experience

In 1911, the American psychologist Edward Thorndike observed cats figuring out how to escape from the cage he placed them in. From this, Thorndike developed his law of effect , which states: If you succeed via trial-and-error, you're more likely to use those same actions and ideas that led to your previous success when you face the problem again.

Takeaway: Your past experience can inform and shed light on the problem you face now. Recall. Explore.

Barriers to reproductive thinking

The Gestalt psychologists  built on Thorndike's ideas when they proposed that problem-solving can happen via reproductive thinking — which is not about sex, but rather solving a problem by using past experience and reproducing that experience to solve the current problem.

What's interesting about Gestalt psychology is how they view barriers to problem-solving. Here are two such barriers:

• Are you entrenched? Look up mental set or entrenchment . This is when you're fixated on a solution that used to work well in the past but has no bearing to your current problem. Are you so entrenched with a method or idea that you use it even when it doesn't work? As Queen Elsa sang, "Let it go!" 
• Are you thinking of alternative uses? There is a cognitive bias called functional fixedness which could thwart any of your critical thinking techniques by having you only see an object's conventional function. For example, say you need to cut a piece of paper in half but only have a ruler. Functional fixedness would lead you to think the ruler is only good for measuring things. (You could also use the ruler to crease the paper, making it easier to tear it in half.)

Takeaway: Think outside of the box! And by box, we mean outside of the past experience you're holding on to, or outside any preconceived ideas on how a tool is conventionally used.

More problem-solving tools

Hurson's productive thinking model.

In his book "Think Better," author and creativity guru Tim Hurson proposed a six-step model for solving problems creatively. The steps in his Productive Thinking Model are:

• Ask, "What is going on?" Define the problem and its impact on your company, then clarify your vision for the future.
• Ask, "What is success?" Define what the solution must do, what resources it needs, its scope, and the values it must uphold.
• Ask, "What is the question?" Generate a long list of questions that, when answered, will solve the problem.
• Generate answers . Answer the questions from step three.
• Forge the solution . Evaluate the ideas with potential based on the criteria from step two. Pick a solution.
• Align resources . Identify people and resources to execute the solution.

Use a fishbone diagram to see cause and effect

The most important part of defining the problem is looking at the possible root cause. You'll need to ask yourself questions like: Where and when is it happening? How is it occurring? With whom is it happening? Why is it happening?

You can get to the root cause with a fishbone diagram (also known as an Ishikawa diagram or a cause and effect diagram).

Basically, you put the effect on the right side as the problem statement. Then you list all possible causes on the left, grouped into larger cause categories. The resulting shape resembles a fish skeleton. Which is a perfect way to say, "This problem smells fishy."

Use analogies to get to a solution

Analogical thinking uses information from one area to help with a problem in a different area. In short, solving a different problem can lead you to find a solution to the actual problem. Watch out though! Analogies are difficult for beginners and take some getting used to.

An example: In the "radiation problem," a doctor has a patient with a tumor that cannot be operated on. The doctor can use rays to destroy the tumor but it also destroys healthy tissue.

Two researchers, Gick and Holyoak , noted that people solved the radiation problem much more easily after being asked to read a story about an invading general who must capture the fortress of a king but be careful to avoid landmines that will detonate if large forces traverse the streets. The general then sends small forces of men down different streets so the army can converge at the fortress at the same time and can capture it at full force.

Ask "12 what elses"

In her book " The Architecture of All Abundance ," author Lenedra J. Carroll (aka the mother of pop star Jewel) talks about a question-and-answer technique for getting out of a problem.

When faced with a problem, ask yourself a question about it and brainstorm 12 answers ("12 what elses") to that problem. Then you can go further by taking one answer, turning it into a question and generating 12 more "what elses." Repeat until the solution is golden brown, fully baked, and ready to take out of the oven.

Start using these techniques today

Hopefully you find these different techniques useful and they get your imagination rolling with ideas on how to solve different problems.

And if that's the case, then you have four different takeaways to use the next time a problem gets you tangled up:

• Don't start by trying to solve the problem. First, aim to understand the root of the problem.
• Use questions to generate ideas for solving the problem.
• Look to previous problems to find the answers to new ones.
• Clear your preconceived ideas and past experiences before attempting to tackle the problem.

How to solve problems with Wrike

Empower your team to be even more productive with Wrike's project management and collaboration tools. With documents, revisions, and project -related communication all in one place, employees can use Wrike as a single source of truth for all project information.

Get 360-degree visibility of all your work and identify problems before they occur — see schedule or resource conflicts on Gantt charts, easily view progress with custom statuses, and move work along with automated approvals.

Want to streamline your processes and ease future problem-solving? Get started with a free two-week trial of Wrike today.

What are your favorite problem-solving techniques?

Do you have a problem-solving technique that has worked wonders for your organization? Hit the comments below and share your wisdom!

Lionel Valdellon

Lionel is a former Content Marketing Manager of Wrike. He is also a blogger since 1997, a productivity enthusiast, a project management newbie, a musician and producer of electronic downtempo music, a father of three, and a husband of one.

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Brainstorming - free training on brainstorming techniques, creativity tools and software

Benefits of brainstorming and techniques for problem solving – free training

Brainstorming offers significant advantages for both individuals and organizations. Personal benefits include the potential for career advancement and recognition as an innovator, especially if your ideas contribute to increased company profits and market share. For managers, promoting brainstorming enhances creativity and cooperation within the team. This not only leads to commendation from higher-ups but also fosters a more satisfied and successful team environment. Regular brainstorming sessions cultivate a culture of free thought, positively impacting the general work atmosphere.

Consider the potential benefits:

• Developing cost-saving strategies.
• Identifying new market opportunities.
• Creating market-leading products.
• Doubling productivity.
• Reducing paperwork and bureaucracy.

These achievements are attainable through brainstorming, directly impacting your rewards and personal satisfaction, and contributing positively to society.

While traditional brainstorming benefits the group, it might sometimes overshadow individual contributions. However, you can gain recognition for being adept at brainstorming, introducing improved techniques, or using advanced methods to develop solutions credited to you.

The outcomes of effective brainstorming include:

• Increased financial gain.
• Quicker promotions.
• Enhanced creativity leading to more fun and profits.
• Societal improvements.
• A more enjoyable work environment.
• Improving employee relations so improving staff development.
• A responsive company.
• Exploiting market gaps.
• Creating new markets and products leading to gains.
• Superior products and services.
• Enhanced management.
• Fewer conflicts.
• Increased productivity and reliability.

Learning effective problem-solving and idea generation techniques is beneficial. While traditional brainstorming is a solid start, advanced methods offer an even more effective way to improve skills for yourself and your colleagues.

However, there are considerations to bear in mind with brainstorming, particularly traditional methods. These are outlined on the next page. We believe the benefits outweigh the risks, hence our dedicated website on the topic. Please proceed to the next page to understand the potential risks before moving on to training material for successful brainstorming.

Other useful websites: Microsoft Word consultant and help , electoral systems and proportional representation calculations visit www.proportionalrepresentation.co.uk

Learn how to harness the power of brainstorming to overcome challenges effectively in your organization. Discover strategies, tips, and best practices for fostering innovation and problem-solving.

• Aug 28, 2024

Innovation is the heartbeat of progress, and one critical way to ignite innovative thinking in any organization is through using brainstorming to overcome challenges . Brainstorming allows teams to generate a plethora of ideas, encouraging creative solutions and collaborative thinking. This article delves into effective brainstorming techniques and how they can be leveraged to resolve complex challenges, fostering a culture of innovation within your organization.

The Importance of Brainstorming in Problem-Solving

Brainstorming is more than just a buzzword; it's a powerful tool for tackling challenges head-on. By bringing together diverse perspectives, teams can explore various angles of a problem, leading to the discovery of unique solutions. Let's examine why brainstorming is crucial in overcoming obstacles:

• Encourages Free Thinking: Brainstorming sessions create a safe space where team members feel comfortable sharing their ideas without fear of judgment.
• Diversifies Perspectives: Inclusive brainstorming invites insights from individuals with different backgrounds and expertise, enriching the problem-solving process.
• Enhances Collaboration: Collaboration is essential for innovative thinking. Brainstorming fosters a collaborative atmosphere where ideas can be built upon and refined collectively.
• Uncovers Hidden Opportunities: Often, the best solutions come from unexpected ideas. Brainstorming can reveal hidden opportunities that might otherwise be overlooked.

Effective Brainstorming Techniques

To maximize the benefits of brainstorming, employing the right techniques is crucial. Here are some proven strategies to ensure productive brainstorming sessions:

1. Mind Mapping

Mind mapping involves creating a visual representation of ideas, making it easier to explore connections and patterns. Start with a central idea and branch out with related concepts, allowing your team to visualize the problem's various aspects.

2. SCAMPER Technique

The SCAMPER technique is an acronym for Substitute, Combine, Adapt, Modify, Put to another use, Eliminate, and Reverse. This method encourages systematic thinking by examining the problem from different angles, promoting innovative solutions.

3. Brainwriting

In brainwriting, participants write down their ideas anonymously. This approach mitigates the influence of dominant personalities, ensuring that all voices are heard and valued.

4. Role Storming

Role storming involves team members assuming different personas or roles to approach the problem from those perspectives. This technique encourages creative thinking by stepping out of conventional mindsets.

5. Round Robin Discussion

In a round robin discussion, each team member takes turns sharing ideas. This ensures that everyone participates, and it helps maintain a steady flow of fresh ideas.

Implementing Brainstorming Sessions Effectively

For brainstorming sessions to yield meaningful results, careful planning and execution are essential. Follow these steps to conduct effective brainstorming meetings:

1. Define the Problem Clearly

Clearly articulate the problem or challenge to ensure that all participants are on the same page. Providing context and specific goals helps focus the brainstorming session.

2. Set Ground Rules

Establishing ground rules is crucial for maintaining a productive environment. Encourage open communication, active listening, and respect for all ideas, no matter how unconventional they may seem.

3. Encourage Quantity over Quality Initially

During the initial stages of brainstorming, focus on generating as many ideas as possible. Encouraging quantity helps prevent self-censorship and paves the way for novel solutions.

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4. Use Facilitators

A skilled facilitator can guide the session, ensuring that everyone stays on track and that discussions remain constructive. Facilitators can also help manage time and maintain the session's energy.

5. Review and Refine Ideas

Once a substantial list of ideas is generated, review and categorize them. Identify the most promising concepts and collaboratively refine them into actionable solutions.

Real-World Examples of Brainstorming Success

Numerous organizations have harnessed the power of brainstorming to overcome challenges successfully. Here are some inspiring examples:

1. Google's 20% Time

Google encourages its employees to spend 20% of their time exploring new ideas and projects. This initiative has led to the creation of highly successful products like Gmail and Google News, demonstrating the power of creative freedom and brainstorming.

2. NASA's Epic Brainstorming Sessions

NASA frequently employs brainstorming to solve complex engineering problems. Their collaborative brainstorming sessions have been instrumental in overcoming obstacles, such as the development of innovative solutions for the Mars Rover missions.

3. Procter & Gamble's Connect + Develop

Procter & Gamble's Connect + Develop program fosters open innovation by collaborating with external partners through structured brainstorming sessions. This approach has resulted in breakthrough products and technologies, boosting the company's growth and competitiveness.

Overcoming Common Brainstorming Challenges

While brainstorming is a powerful tool, it is not without its challenges. Here are some common obstacles and strategies to overcome them:

1. Dominance by Strong Personalities

To prevent dominant personalities from overshadowing others, use techniques like brainwriting or role storming to ensure all participants contribute equally.

2. Groupthink

Groupthink can stifle creativity. Encourage individual brainstorming before group sessions, and promote diverse viewpoints to counteract conformity.

3. Lack of Focus

Unstructured brainstorming can lead to a loss of direction. Clearly define the problem and use facilitators to maintain focus and drive the discussion toward actionable solutions.

4. Premature Judgment

Judgment or criticism during brainstorming can hinder idea generation. Establish ground rules that encourage open-mindedness and postpone judgment until the idea refinement stage.

Using brainstorming to overcome challenges is an invaluable strategy for any organization seeking to foster innovation and collaborative problem-solving. By employing effective techniques, setting clear goals, and creating a conducive environment, teams can unlock a wealth of creative solutions. Embrace the power of brainstorming, and watch your organization thrive in the face of challenges.

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Can AI Match Human Ingenuity in Creative Problem-Solving?

When ChatGPT and other large language models began entering the mainstream two years ago, it quickly became apparent the technology could excel at certain business functions, yet it was less clear how well artificial intelligence could handle more creative tasks.

Sure, generative AI can summarize the content of an article, identify patterns in data, and produce derivative work—say, a song in the style of Taylor Swift or a poem in the mood of Langston Hughes—but can the technology develop truly innovative ideas?

Specifically, Harvard Business School Assistant Professor Jacqueline Ng Lane was determined to find out “how AI handled open-ended problems that haven’t been solved yet—the kind where you need diverse expertise and perspectives to make progress.”

In a working paper published in the journal Organization Science , Lane and colleagues compare ChatGPT’s creative potential to crowdsourced innovations produced by people. Ultimately, the researchers found that both humans and AI have their strengths—people contribute more novel suggestions while AI creates more practical solutions—yet some of the most promising ideas are the ones people and machines develop together.

Lane cowrote the paper with Léonard Bouissioux, assistant professor at the University of Washington’s Foster School of Business; Miaomiao Zhang, an HBS doctoral student, Karim Lakhani, the Dorothy & Michael Hintze Professor of Business Administration at HBS; and Vladimir Jacimovic, CEO and founder of ContinuumLab.ai and executive fellow at HBS.

Crowdsourcing people for ‘moonshots’

Any innovation process usually starts with brainstorming, says Lane, whose research has long looked at how creative ideas are produced.

“You start with defining the problem, then you generate ideas, then you evaluate them and choose which ones to implement.”

“It’s like a funnel,” she says. “You start with defining the problem, then you generate ideas, then you evaluate them and choose which ones to implement.”

Research has shown that crowdsourcing can be an effective way to generate initial ideas. However, the approach can be time-consuming and expensive. Creative teams typically offer incentives to respondents for their ideas. Then teams often must wait for input and then comb through ideas to come up with the most promising leads.

An off-the-shelf large language model such as ChatGPT, however, is free or low cost for end users, and can generate an infinite number of ideas quickly, Lane says. But are the ideas any good?

To find out, Lane and her fellow researchers asked people to come up with business ideas for the sustainable circular economy, in which products are reused or recycled to make new products. They disseminated a request on an online platform, offering $10 for participating and $1,000 for the best idea. Here’s part of their request:

We would like you to submit your circular economy idea, which can be a unique new idea or an existent idea that is used in the industry.

Here is an example: Car sharing in order to reduce the carbon footprint associated with driving. …

Submit your real-life use cases on how companies can implement the circular economy in their businesses. New ideas are also welcome, even if they are “moonshots.”

Seeking creative ideas from ChatGPT

The researchers asked for ideas that would involve “sharing, leasing, reusing, repairing, refurbishing [or] recycling existing materials and products as long as possible.” Suggestions would be scored for uniqueness, environmental benefits, profit potential, and feasibility.

Some 125 people replied with contributions, offering insights from a variety of industries and professional backgrounds. One, for example, proposed a dynamic pricing algorithm for supermarkets to cut down on food waste, while another suggested a mobile app that could store receipts to reduce paper waste.

At the same time, the research team employed prompt engineering techniques to craft a variety of AI prompts. Using these carefully designed prompts, they generated several hundred additional solutions through ChatGPT. The team strategically modified their prompts to:

• Challenge the model to create more ideas.
• Mimic the perspective of someone from a particular industry, job title, and place—a persona.
• Remind the model to provide ideas that reflect the scoring criteria.

The team then recruited some 300 evaluators well-versed in the circular economy to evaluate a randomized selection of the ideas based on the scoring criteria.

People are creative, but AI ideas are more feasible

The evaluators judged the human solutions as more novel, employing more unique “out of the box” thinking. However, they found the AI-generated ideas to be more valuable and feasible.

For example, one participant from Africa proposed creating interlocking bricks using foundry dust and waste plastic, creating a new construction material and cutting down on air pollution at the same time. “The evaluators said, ‘Wow, this is really innovative, but it would never work,’” Lane says.

“We were surprised at how powerful these technologies were.”

One ChatGPT response, meanwhile, created an idea to convert food waste into biogas, a renewable energy source that could be used for electricity and fertilizer. Not the most novel idea, the researchers noted, but one that could be implemented and might show a clear financial return.

“We were surprised at how powerful these technologies were,” Lane says, “especially in these early stages in the creative process.”

How to reach the best solutions

The “best” ideas, Lane says, may come from those in which humans and AI collaborate, with people engineering prompts and continually working with AI to develop more original ideas.

“We consistently achieved higher quality results when AI would come up with an idea and then we had an instruction that said: Make sure before you create your next idea, it’s different from all the ones before it,” Lane explains.

Additional prompts increased the novelty of the ideas, generating everything from waste-eating African flies to beverage containers tracked by smart chips that instantly pay consumers for recycling them.

Based on the findings, the researchers suggest business leaders keep a few points in mind when implementing AI to develop creative solutions:

• Knowing how to ask the right questions is important. Organizations might want to invest in cultivating an “AI-literate” workforce that can understand the capabilities and limitations of AI to generate the most successful ideas.
• Organizations should resist the temptation to rely excessively on AI. That could “dumb down” the overall level of creative output over time, leading to more incremental improvements than radical breakthroughs, the team says.
• People should view generative AI models as collaborative tools. In a sequential approach, humans could brainstorm solutions, then submit them to AI to refine them and increase their value and feasibility. Alternatively, humans could work more iteratively with AI, constantly shaping and improving the ideas it provides.

The most productive way to use generative AI, the research suggests, is to combine the novelty that people excel at with the practicality of the machine. Says Lane, “We still need to put our minds toward being forward-looking and envisioning new things as we are guiding the outputs of AI to create the best solutions.”

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• Azerbaijani

CREATIVE THINKING-Problem Solving-Managing Classrooms and Opening Minds for 21st Century-BERLIN

Creative thinking involves generating new and innovative ideas, perspectives, and solutions. It's a cognitive process that breaks away from traditional, linear thinking and embraces originality.

Description

• Welcome and Icebreaker
• Introduction to the course objectives and structure.
• Icebreaker activities to create a positive and interactive learning environment.
• Understanding Creativity
• Definition of creativity and its importance in education.
• Exploration of common myths about creativity.
• Barriers to Creativity
• Identification and discussion of common barriers to creative thinking.
• Strategies to overcome these barriers.
• Creativity in Education
• Day 2: Creative Thinking Models
• Introduction to Creative Thinking Models
• Practical Application
• Hands-on activities applying creative thinking models to real-world scenarios.
• Group discussions and sharing of insights.
• Case Studies in Creative Teaching
• Analysis of case studies showcasing creative teaching practices.
• Group discussions on adapting these practices to various subjects.
• Day 3: Techniques for Fostering Creativity
• Brainstorming and Mind Mapping
• Techniques for effective brainstorming.
• Introduction to mind mapping as a visual thinking tool.
• Creative Exercises for the Classroom
• Interactive activities that can be easily integrated into lesson plans.
• Exploration of techniques to stimulate creativity in students.
• Day 4: Cultivating a Creative Classroom
• Building a Creative Classroom Culture
• Strategies for creating a classroom environment that encourages creative thinking.
• Importance of positive feedback and encouragement.
• Role of Technology in Creative Education
• Exploration of educational tools and technologies that promote creativity.
• Hands-on experience with selected tools.
• Day 5: Assessment and Continuous Improvement
• Assessing Creativity in Students
• Strategies for assessing and evaluating creative thinking in the classroom.
• Course Wrap-up and Certificates
• Distribution of course completion certificates.
• Closing remarks and encouragement for continued creativity in teaching.

Learning objectives

•  Be willing to consider ideas that might initially seem unusual or unconventional. Avoid immediate judgment and explore different viewpoints.
•  Cultivate a curious mindset. Ask questions, seek new information, and challenge assumptions. Curiosity fuels exploration and can lead to unexpected connections.
• Encourage the generation of a wide variety of ideas. Brainstorming is a classic example of divergent thinking, where the goal is to produce a large quantity of ideas without initially evaluating them.
• Make connections between seemingly unrelated concepts. This can lead to novel and creative solutions. Metaphors, analogies, and similes are tools that can help in this process.
•  Create visual representations of ideas and their relationships. Mind maps can help you organize thoughts and identify connections that might not be immediately apparent in a linear format.
• Questioning assumptions can lead to fresh perspectives. Ask yourself why things are done a certain way and consider alternatives.
•  Comfort with uncertainty and ambiguity is crucial for creative thinking. Sometimes the most innovative ideas emerge from situations that lack clear solutions.
•  Approach problems with a sense of play. Experimentation and play can lead to unexpected breakthroughs.
• Engage with others to exchange ideas and perspectives. Collaboration often brings together diverse experiences and knowledge, fostering creativity.
•  Stepping away from a problem can give your mind the space it needs to subconsciously process information and come up with creative solutions.
•  Exposure to a variety of ideas, disciplines, and perspectives can inspire creativity. Read books, articles, and materials outside your usual areas of interest.

Methodology & assessment

Certification details.

• Completion Certificate : Upon successfully completing a teacher training course, you will typically receive a completion certificate or diploma from the training provider or institution. This certificate acknowledges your participation and successful completion of the training.
• Course Duration : The duration of teacher training courses can vary widely. Some may be short-term workshops or seminars, while others may be more comprehensive and span several weeks or months. The certificate may indicate the total number of hours or credits completed.
• Content and Curriculum : The certificate should outline the key topics, content, and skills covered during the training. This information helps future employers or educational institutions understand the scope of your training.
• Credits or Continuing Education Units (CEUs) : In some cases, teacher training courses may offer academic credits or Continuing Education Units (CEUs). These credits can be valuable for professional development and may be recognized by educational authorities or institutions.
• Language of Instruction : If the teacher training course is conducted in a language other than your native language, the certificate may indicate your language proficiency level or the language in which the training was delivered.
• Evaluation and Assessment : Teacher training courses often involve assessments or evaluations of your performance. The certificate may include information about your performance in the training, such as grades or evaluations.
• Recognition and Accreditation : Ensure that the teacher training course and the institution providing it are recognized and accredited by relevant educational authorities or professional bodies. This can affect the credibility and transferability of your certificate.
• Pedagogical Practices : If the training includes practical teaching experience or classroom observations, the certificate may highlight your proficiency in specific pedagogical practices or teaching methodologies.

Pricing, packages and other information

• Price: 400 Euro
• Package contents: Course

Additional information

• Language: English
• Target audience ISCED: Primary education (ISCED 1) Lower secondary education (ISCED 2) Upper secondary education (ISCED 3)
• Target audience type: Teacher Head Teacher / Principal Government staff / policy maker
• Learning time: 25 hours or more

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