Determine your tools
Whether youâve chosen a physical brainstorming session or a virtual one, the right tools can facilitate participation from your entire group, save time, and keep your brainstorming session organized. Determine which tools youâll use before you get started and ensure that your team is prepared to use them before your session begins.Â
- Sticky notes: Sticky notes are a tried-and-true brainstorming tool used to record and organize ideas, usually on a whiteboard. Sticky notes can be easily color-coordinated, edited, removed, re-arranged, and more to accurately paint a picture of your ideas. Sticky notes can also be implemented virtually using a program like Lucidspark. Simply enter your information on your online sticky note or upload your text from a CSV or Excel spreadsheet to create sticky notes in bulk.
- Timer or time-keeping system: A timer or alarm can help you and your team stay on task as you move from one phase of your brainstorming to another. A time can also help you schedule short breaks during which your group can reset and recharge.Â
- Whiteboard: Physical brainstorming sessions usually involve some version of the classic whiteboard to display ideas as theyâre presented.Â
- Online whiteboard: An online whiteboard like Lucidspark can record and organize ideas from several users, even when team members are working remotely. Lucidsparkâs online whiteboard comes complete with tools like a notes editor for centralized note-taking, sticky notes, a timer, and diagram templates to add structure to your teamâs thoughts.Â
Keep it short and simple
The longer your brainstorming session runs, the more likely your team is to lose focus. Instead of scheduling a longer meeting where your team is likely to become fatigued, ask your team to come to your meeting prepared with a few ideas that will help get brainstorming off to a productive start. Limit your sessions to short 15-30 minute bursts with short breaks in between to allow for maximum productivity and prevent burnout.
In addition to scheduling a shorter meeting, consider limiting your brainstorming team to essential team members that youâre sure will be able to contribute valuable ideas to your brainstorming meeting. A team of 10 or fewer will allow for a variety of ideas to be heard without overcrowding your session with too many voices.
Focus on quantity
You read that right! By focusing on quantity over quality, youâll be able to facilitate a meeting in which you can produce many ideas that will eventually lead to the right one, rather than waiting for the âperfectâ idea before anyone opens their mouth. In the end, quantity should facilitate quality by allowing your team to explore divergent, innovative thinking.
Focus on collecting ideas quickly, then come back later to reflect on and build off of the ideas you shared earlier. Each idea should be expressed and recorded simply to keep your team from getting too hung up on details.Â
Avoid criticism
Brainstorming sessions operate best in open, supportive, encouraging environments in which participants feel free to express any idea. Criticism is counterproductive to the creative process, discouraging potentially thought-provoking ideas and preventing participants from opening their mouths for fear of judgment.Â
Welcome the unusual
While you may not be in the market for outlandish or wild ideas, they can serve to ignite better, more innovative ways of thinking. Encourage your participants to approach your topic or problem without assumptions or from a new point of view to promote more inventive ideas.Â
Not only should all ideas be vocalizedâthey should all be recorded and revisited. No idea is too outlandish to be considered.
Combine and build on ideas
One of the benefits of working in a group is the synergy that comes from feeding off the ideas of others. Encourage your team to listen to each idea shared within the group and use them as inspiration for their own ideas. The ability to dissect, build on, and improve ideas that have already been shared can be just as valuable as the ability to generate ideas out of thin air. It can also be a great exercise in encouraging active listening and team-building amongst your team members.
Brainstorming online
Online brainstorming software like Lucidspark can give you the space, structure, and flexibility you need to generate and share ideas with your group when in-person brainstorming isn't an option. With infinite space to spread out and come up with new ideas, as well as tools to keep your meeting running and reach consensus, Lucidspark can help you facilitate an energetic, productive meeting in which your best ideas are highlighted.Â
When brainstorming online, make sure your team comes prepared with ideas at the ready. Use your whiteboard space to break out into groups if needed, then call participants to follow the meeting host when itâs time to share ideas as a group. Vote on your ideas to make sure that only your best are turned into action items.
Get started with Lucidspark
Lucidsparkâs canvas gives you the space you need to explore your ideasâand the structure you need to turn them into next steps. Sign up today to get all of the benefits of a classic brainstorming sessionâwith the convenience of remote access, cloud-based features, and integrations that keep you connected with apps like G Suite, Slack, and Lucidchart.
