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Brainstorming is an effective tool to stimulate ideas from individuals or groups in a spontaneous fashion. To generate the next big idea from a successful brainstorm session, you need some tactics in facilitation.
How to Be an Efficient Facilitator
To facilitate a successful brainstorming session, here are some tips:
Devote time to smart questions
To-the-point questions that will maximize the productivity of a brainstorm session. Be sure to paint a clear picture of the goals and switch on the problem-solving mode.
Quantity is central
The aim of brainstorming is to generate as many ideas as possible. Get the ball rolling and prompt voices from every attendee. Keeping the momentum will ignite the participants' creative spark.
Withhold judgement
The pool of ideas might shrink if there is a fear of criticism. Create a safe and comfortable environment for participants to speak up. Let ideas flow in an air of energy and encouragement.
Embrace wildness
Never has a big idea bowed to the norm. Sow a seed of the potential and let ideas fly. Welcome perspectives from a diverse group of people - you will be amazed by innovative and fresh ideas.
Build, blend, and extend
Build upon existing responses is an efficient strategy to generate a solution. Allow ideas to flow, blend, and extend. A sketch of the answer will start to emerge.
Quiz
When someone is too shy to voice his/her thought out in your group, what would be helpful to elicit ideas?
Writing down ideas anonymously can give shyer participants a comfortable way to share creative ideas.
Tricks to Elicit Ideas
Break down the process
You can try to break down the process if the participants feel clueless or burdened. Dividing the big picture into small pieces and choosing one area to focus on is helpful to boost efficiency.
Reverse brainstorming
Instead of thinking of what helps you capture the target, try to find out what hurdles prevent you. Taking the opposite stance will give you a fresh route to your goals.
Free writing
This approach encourages members to jot down anything that comes to their minds. Participants are given a defined time (5-10 minutes) to write continuously and anonymously. New angles and novel ideas are more easily to emerge in a free and comfortable environment.
Quiz
How can you get ideas as many as possible in brainstorming?
All of these strategies help to create a comfortable and creative environment, which will generate more ideas than if participants feel judged or nervous.
Did you know?
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Take Action
Brainstorming will not always lead to a satisfactory solution, unless it is facilitated in a well-structured approach. Fuel your brainstorming session by trying the above tactics, and you will find a clearer pathway towards the goal.
Which of these tips will you try at your next brainstorm session?
This Byte has been authored by
Mengmeng Li
Dedicated to positive changes