How to Conduct a Productive Brainstorming Session
Companies rely on brainstorming sessions to find solutions to problems and to develop new ideas. A facilitator gathers a group of employees and shares information regarding the problem or situation facing the company. Brainstorming provides many advantages to the company, including the uncensored flow of ideas and the opportunity to build on other's ideas. The facilitator follows steps to ensure that the brainstorming session ends productively.
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
Productive Brainstorming
-
1
Choose participants and send invitations. Participants should be energetic, creative and respectful of other people's ideas. Choose employees from various departments to gain a diverse perspective from the group. Contact each manager first to ensure that the manager approves the employee's participation in the group. Check each individual's calendar and find a convenient time for the group to meet. Send invitations to the group.
-
2
Set up meeting room. Determine what materials to keep on hand during the brainstorming session. Useful materials to include around the room include flipcharts, dry erase boards and markers. Set a place at the table for each participant with a notepad, sticky notes and pens. Include empty glasses and water pitchers on the table.
-
-
3
Conduct an icebreaker. After the participants arrive, ask each to share a little known fact about them on a sticky note and post it on the wall. Ask the group members to guess who wrote each sticky note.
-
4
Lay out the ground rules. These rules include sharing ideas openly, making only positive comments during the session and not interrupting others. These rules allow each member to feel secure sharing with the group. Discuss the purpose of the brainstorming session so that everyone knows what situation the group is addressing. Ask group members to start submitting ideas.
-
5
List ideas on a whiteboard or flipchart each time a member shares one. Continue adding ideas until the meeting ends. Combine the ideas into one list. Email the list to each group member. Ask group members to consider the ideas before the next meeting.
-
6
Have a follow-up meeting two days after the original meeting. Ask the group to choose the best ideas. Discuss these ideas further as a group and choose one to implement.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Keep the group small. A larger group might prevent people from feeling comfortable sharing.
Respect for fellow group members is critical for the success of the brainstorming session. Any group member who feels disrespected will not contribute as much.
