How to Successfully Brainstorm Whether it be for a term paper, a business strategy, a product idea, vacation plan, etc., it will probably require brainstorming so you need to understand how it actually works. Let me introduce you to the steps of successful brainstorming. Step 1: Identify the Problem and Quality Solutions Whether you are by yourself or with a group write out an objective. Identify what it is you are trying to achieve and what qualifies as a valid solution. This will give the people the correct context so they don’t waste their efforts listing ideas that would never work in the first place. If it is a business strategy explain the deadlines, budgets, and expectations before beginning. Step 2: Set a time limit The time limit is very important. Usually twenty minutes will do, but make sure the participants are aware that there is a limited amount of time to contribute ideas so they need to come quickly. Long pauses or worn out individuals are definitely not conducive to the thought environment. Once the limit is up reevaluate the situation. If you need more time than add some additional time but make sure that again there is a known limit. Every time you wish to continue stop and revaluate if it will be beneficial. We are looking for sprints of creative thought, no marathons. Step 3: Map it Out As the thoughts leap from your mouth make sure to try and make sense of the mess. The easiest way I have found is to create a mind map in which each idea is connected to the central objective in some way. Other ideas are connected to first tier ideas, third to second and so on. Not only does this make it easier to organize later but allows more connections to be made in your mind stimulating new ideas.
Step 4: Don’t Stop the Flow There are no stupid ideas, no matter how ridiculous they may seem. Saying no to an idea cuts off any future ideas that may have stemmed from it. Also saying no to an individual or even to yourself chokes the desire to contribute. I do not care what the idea is you say ‘and’, never ‘but’.
Step 5: Top of Mind End the session but encourage participants to keep the topic in their mind throughout the rest of the day and to write down any additional ideas that they have. Perhaps a different environment will encourage different ideas. Step 6: Another Go Have people gather again and look at the mind map adding any new ideas they had during the day and then any additional ideas they may have at that moment. Make sure you have exhausted the creative well. Step 7: Order and decide Now sift through the ideas, eliminating those that will not work. Take the rest of the ideas and order them in a hierarchy of different themes. Order them from best to worst or perhaps from most viable to least. After they are sifted, organized and ordered, make a decision to which is the best and start implementing it. It doesn’t matter if you are in business administration, a class in a Provo college, or planning a wedding vacation, go through the steps and you will brainstorm successfully. Photo Credit: Casey Marshall, hawkexpress, Chuck Coker, Marco Belluci, Paul Bica