15 Advices For Creative And Productive Brainstorming

Brainstorming is a technique that can help in generating ideas and finding solutions for various problems. I’ve participated in many brainstorming sessions, with different people and for different purposes. Of course, part of them was cool and productive; the other part was simply a waste of time. Either way, there is always a room to improve, so if you want to enjoy more productive and creative brainstorming sessions, next time apply following advices. I’m sure they will enrich your creative process.

1. Clearly define goal

Whether you want to generate some ideas or solve a problem, everybody involved need to know where to focus his or her brain.

2. Select a chairperson that will lead the session

Many brainstorming sessions turns into chaos or simply lose their focus, when there is no person who leads.

3. No criticism

All ideas are invited, even wildest or dumb. There are no penalties and there are no useless ideas.

4. Quantity, not quality

Brainstorming is one of those things where quantity counts more than quality. Don’t aim for the best, as it can limit your effectiveness.

5. Capture all ideas.

This is no-brainer. Try using different solutions. Take notes on computer, use mind maps, write everything on whiteboard or paper, and draw sketches.

6. Have fun, not fear.

You all should enjoy this process. If anybody feels fear, then that person is almost useless as he or she is afraid of sharing ideas that in the end might be very good.

7. Take a break

I think that about after an hour of brainstorming our creativity can really drop. Take a break. Give time to your brain. Let it work in your subconscious. Meantime do some exercises. Drink a green tea or water. Get some fresh air. Sleep. Run another session tomorrow.

8. Invite new people

…but it doesn’t mean: invite everybody!.

9. Use inspiring materials

Prepare before session or look for it during brainstorming. These might be books, images, newspapers, and advertisements. Browse web and RSS reader, use search engines, dictionaries, flickr, youtube; watch TV, listen to radio, chat with people. But there is a pitfall you must be aware of. Don’t spend on this process too much time. You must use your intuition there and focus your attention only on things that you really think can help you. Otherwise you will waste a lot of time, losing focus from your target.

10. Use mindmaps

Mindmaps can damn well stimulate our minds, making us more creative and focused. It is also a great way for capturing your ideas, as I mentioned in one of above points.

11. Switch mindset

Approach your goal with different mindsets. For example, start with being peaceful. Try to find a solution or idea that fits your mindset. Good, smooth, nice, warm. Talk, negotiate, and be honest with your goal. Then try something else. Be aggressive, violent. Attack your problem with all forces, show no mercy. Seek for the most devastating ideas. Nuke ‘em all!
Got the point?

12. Engage all senses

Write your ideas down. Visualize them in your mind. Draw. Try to hear the solution. Listen to that voice in your head. How this idea smell? Can you feel the texture? Remember that said it should be fun? Don’t think only in images or even worse, only in words and sentences.

13. Apply these inventive principles
14. Practise

The more you practise the better your are. Find what works for you, learn and eliminate mistakes.

15. Share this post with others

photo credit: sindändùne