Effective Brain Storming

What is Brainstorming?

This is a term that we regularly use and I am pretty sure that most of you have done brainstorming as well, maybe with a group or by your self. But how effective was brainstorming? did a brainstorming session always produce solutions or was it a waste of time? The following tips may help you in the future in your brainstorming session to produce the results you desire.

Know what Brainstorming is

Well, Brainstorming means exactly what it says. Just letting your brain go at a problem. The biggest mistake that I see when people brainstorm is they try to put parameters into their minds when brainstorming. For an effective brainstorming session, just let your mind free-flow on the problem and the solutions.

Spend more time on solutions 

The biggest mistake that I see is most of the time we spend more time on the problem then the solution at brainstorming session. Make sure you do not spend more then 5% - 10% of the total brainstorming session time on the problem, the rest should be focused on the solution

Imagine outlandish ideas

When brainstorming, do not have a boundary of getting only practical solutions. Try to think of impossible and outlandish solutions. Sometimes one of these outlandish ideas could spark the solution that you were looking for. So do not limit to any boundaries.

Leave your EGO at the door

When brainstorming (mainly in a team), the whole team has to be free from EGO. Because we need to be open and free to make even the most stupidest suggestions, which could lead to the solution that everyone is looking for. Even a simple suggestion from you could lead another person brain to find the solution. So either with yourself or within a group when brainstorming, leave your EGO behind.

Group should be comfortable with each other

The group that is meeting to brainstorm should be comfortable with each other. If not people will not open up and communication will not take place. People may talk, but not connect with each other. It is when everyone who is involved in a brainstorming session connect with each other and comfortable with each other only a brain storming session will be effective.

Have working papers

Always have a working papers, whatever that is being discussed or getting planed have that in paper and not in your head. That way when the session finishes also, still the thought process that went through will be documented and even better solutions can come up.

Well there you are, these are the tips that I always try to have when brainstorming with my self or with my team and hopefully they will help you in your brain storming sessions as well.