Brainstorm better with these 7 valuable tips

What really is the heart of business success? ideas Without new ideas, companies cannot achieve more than the status quo. Ideas lead to better products, more effective sales and marketing, efficient operations and communications; You say it. Without ideas, organizations have nothing.

The most widely used tool to generate and develop new ideas in organizations is group brainstorming. Literally millions upon thousands of brainstorming sessions take place in offices and conference rooms around the world, every day.

In our innovation work, we have the opportunity to ask entrepreneurs about the effectiveness of their brainstorming efforts. And it’s rare that we don’t hear a negative response. “Bored.” “Intimidating.” “A great waste of time.” “The same old ideas over and over again.” “Nothing ever happens with the concepts we come up with.” These are all comments we hear repeatedly, from people at all levels of an organization and from all business categories.

In fact, brainstorming as traditionally practiced is a sloppy and messy process. Amazingly, this one activity, which is vitally important to business success, is allowed to be carried out in a way that is completely unstructured, facilitated by people with little or no training and who have no idea what tools or techniques can do their job. more productive efforts. One can only imagine the cost of ineffective brainstorming to companies, in wasted labor, missed opportunities, and damaged employee morale.

The topic of brainstorming is big and important. But here are seven things you can start doing today to make your sessions that much more effective.

1. Make a plan, Stan.

It is sometimes said that professionals plan, amateurs improvise. Before you start your brainstorming, take the time to plan your session. What is the challenge you will present to the group? What is your goal for the session? Ten new ideas? Hundred? What idea generation techniques will you use to inspire your group’s imagination and make new connections? When you create a vision and plan for the session, you increase the chances that you will actually get it done.

2. Invite diversity

Tired of getting the same old ideas in every brainstorming session? Maybe you should consider not inviting the same usual suspects. By including people with backgrounds, perspectives, ages, genders, ethnicities, etc. Refreshingly different, you’ll create a group mind with a wealth of diverse experiences to draw from. Consider who in your organization might make an unexpected contribution to your think tank, and make sure they’re there.

3. Kick the boss

I once knew the president of a company who insisted on coming to every brainstorming session and then would start by saying, “You know how they say there are no bad ideas? That’s wrong. There are really bad ideas that should never be expressed.” So, does anyone have a thing?” Nothing will close a brainstorming session more effectively than the fear of saying something stupid in front of the boss. Sometimes it’s easier said than done, but unless your company’s leadership is extremely understanding and understanding, they shouldn’t be in a brainstorming session Idea generation requires a safe environment, where people aren’t afraid to share their thoughts Make sure the boss will go over everything with her after the session ends.

4. Play by the rules

Of course, it’s not just the boss who can derail and brainstorm. Anyone with a big ego, loud voice, or attention-seeking personality can do the same. Negativity and judgment bring instant death to the spontaneous exchange of ideas faster than negativity and judgment. Make a list of guidelines or rules for your session as soon as it starts. Ask everyone’s agreement. No negative comments. One person speaks at a time. Crazy, even bold ideas are encouraged. If someone breaks the rules, ask others in the group to willingly remind them, perhaps by tossing them with crumpled up balls of paper!

5. Hold the phone

“Phone” here, of course, means any device that distracts attention from the task at hand. The remarkable convenience and productivity that PDAs provide is nothing short of miraculous. They also bring brainstorming sessions to a complete halt. One of their most important rules is: “All phones, smartphones, iPhones, Blackberry, Blueberry, Raspberry, whatever, turned OFF during the session and out of sight, out of reach of temptation.” Assure attendees that you will provide breaks during which they can check messages or email.

6. Ask lots of questions

Don’t get what you want from your brainstorming group? Maybe you are not asking the right questions. Can you immediately change the consciousness and exit of any group simply by posing a provocative question? “What if we combine the last two ideas?” “That was a crazy idea. How can we control it to make it more of a strategy?” “What are three more ideas like that?” Learn and apply the art of powerful questions, and you’ll get an exponentially higher return on your ideation investment.

7. Keep the momentum

Most brainstorming sessions tend to start slowly and with little energy. People are feeling their way in the process. After a while, the energy sometimes increases for a few minutes. Ideas come from everywhere. Then it stops. They’ve run out of steam. They start talking about last night’s episode of Mad Men. You’re lost. A great facilitator is like an accomplished surfer: he can “feel” the crest of the wave, where he is now and where he is going, and ride it to the finish. Tune in to the energy in the room, when it’s high, let it explode. At the first sign of loss of energy, ask a provocative question that will take the group in an interesting new direction and get things rolling again. Facilitating brainstorming is fun work, but work nonetheless. Stay focused, ride the wave, and you’ll come out with a stack full of great ideas.

Great brainstorming and generating creative ideas is a multifaceted process that requires structure, skilled facilitation, and a full toolkit of proven techniques. There is much to learn. But you can start your continuing education with these seven key improvements and start seeing better results right away.

How’s that for a great idea?