Brainstorming Sessions🧠
Happy Friday, Readers,
How are you doing?!
In Italy, we are about to enjoy a long weekend; I truly needed this extended break!!😁
Today, I want to discuss the subject of brainstorming sessions...🧠
Brainstorming sessions can be incredibly effective, yet they frequently present frustrating challenges.
To begin with, it can be complete CHAOS!
Participants toss around various ideas without any filtering or organisation, resulting in a disorganised jumble rather than a clear path forward.
More vocal or higher-status participants tend to overshadow those who are quieter, even when the quieter individuals have valuable ideas, or maybe everyone agrees too quickly, leading to safe, unoriginal ideas just to maintain harmony and move on.
Without a moderator, the conversation strays into irrelevant topics—half of the session focuses on snacks instead of strategy. (Yes, a proper session always has unlimited food and drinks!)🍲😋🥘🥫🧉🍹
Or what about the brainstorming sessions that are typically planned for one hour… yet they often extend to two (actually even three or four).
Surprisingly, you find yourself no nearer to a solution than you were at the beginning.😑
And when this happens, Concepts and ideas are cast into the abyss without any strategy for their development or execution.
You exit the room pondering, "So... what comes next?"
Have you ever experienced the uncomfortable quiet when nobody is willing to take the lead, or when no one has anything to contribute?
It's both awkward and unproductive, but I said said if no one’s guiding the process, the session lacks purpose, timing, or momentum.😣
However, are you searching for solutions to address those problems? Here you are!💣🚀
- Identify the issue you aim to address.
- Provide context to participants beforehand.
- Prevent chaos and opt for structured approaches:
- Round-Robin: Each person presents one idea prior to discussion.
- SCAMPER: Substitute, Combine, Adapt, Modify, Put to other use, Eliminate, Reverse.
- Encourage participants to jot down their thoughts quietly at first (e.g., 5–10 minutes).
- Minimises groupthink.
- Allows introverts to excel.
- Generate a broader array of initial ideas.
- The group remains focused.
- Time is managed efficiently.
- Everyone is involved.
Another great tip is to record everything (capturing ideas in real-time and following up with subsequent actions could help a lot!)
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