6 Ways To Run An Effective Brainstorming Session
Brainstorming sessions are meant to serve as a toll to produce ‘ideas’ that are inspired through creative means. When conducting a brainstorming session, consider the following as key components necessary for an effective methodology:
1. State The Challenge
Stating your challenge is the key component for an effective brainstorming session. Often, participants are not aware of the issue at hand, which in turn leads to solutions that do not solve the problem at hand. The goal should be to bring all participating members on the same platform by clearly stating the challenge at hand. Be sure to ensure that the moderator is clear and concise in addressing the challenge and running a effective session.
2. Leave Criticism At The Door
In order to think like a creative, don’t forget your confidence! It is vital that criticism be left outside the session. It only harbors negativity and it will not result in any teamwork. It can also prevent participants from producing ideas as well as sharing them in a group. The ideas that are presented should be used as a benchmark to welcome an increase in discussion for a viable solution.
3. Enthusiastic Facilitator
The facilitator sets the environment and the motivation for participants. An enthusiastic facilitator will produce dynamic participation and ensure that the conversation remains on track.
4. Use Voice Recording
When ideas roll, they roll. It is very common for a great idea to be forgotten when repeated twice. Therefore, it is always a great idea to record the brainstorming session. These recordings can be used as a reference and analysis.
5. Comfortable Environment
The environment can make or break your brainstorming session. Your participants should be in an environment that has minimal distractions. Where possible, hold the brainstorming session outside your office, in a pleasant environment where participants are less likely to worry about their obligations.
6. Keep To The Time Limit
Conduct a brainstorm session with a time constraint. It will build a high performance team environment. The time constraint will give participants a sense of urgency to develop ideas that provide results. Creativity requires a great deal of imagination and innovation, which are key in brainstorming. The mind can only stay stimulated for a certain period of time. Which means, if your sessions are stretched out to more then thirty minutes, it may not be as effective. However, you can also consider splitting up the sessions over at different times throughout the day or stretch it out over several days.
There you have it, six ways to run an effective brainstorming session. If you have your own ideas that help stimulate creativity, please comment – we always love to hear from you.
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October 14th, 2009 at 10:11 pm
Thank you for the insight! I cannot wait to implement this for my team!
October 15th, 2009 at 9:14 am
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