How to generate creative ideas through brainstorming
If you're short on ideas or want a large number of ideas quickly, use the classic group process called 'brainstorming'. The process encourages divergent thinking among group members as they collectively address an issue confronting the organisation. Here are the steps to follow...
1. Explain the process to the group.
After familiarising yourself with the steps listed on these pages, outline broadly the brainstorming process to your group. If the approach is new to some participants, begin with a simple practical exercise. For example, 'To what other uses might a common house brick be put?' Encourage the group's creative input, with a recorder listing all the suggestions offered.
2. Discuss the rules for brainstorming.
The brainstorming process has five basic rules which can now be elicited from your group following the introductory exercise. These are:
- Keep an open mind - suspend criticism on anyone's idea.
- Let yourself go - 'free-wheel' in terms of using your imagination. No discussion of any item is permitted in the process.
- Generate as many ideas as possible - all ideas are acceptable; quantity is encouraged.
- Try to build on the ideas of others by hitchhiking.
- All ideas are visible to everyone - upfront on a whiteboard or flipsheet.
3. Present the problem to the group.
Preliminaries over, you are now ready to generate ideas that focus on the problem at hand. Make sure that participants have a clear under-standing of the issue to be addressed. If necessary, spend some time talking about the issue as you see it and encourage the views of others before moving into the idea-generating stage. 'Why', 'how' and 'what' questions are appropriate here.
