I was chatting with a client this morning and helping them with a upcoming session, and we were chatting about using a brainstorming session to get the group all on the same page with an issue they are dealing with.
Brainstorming is a powerful tool for generating fresh ideas, getting everyone on board, dealing with issues, and fostering growth and innovation. However, brainstorming by just bringing everyone into the conference room and saying that we need to brainstorm will backfire. It needs structure and purpose, or it will quickly lead to confusion, disengagement, and a lack of follow-through. It will be a total waste of everyone’s time, to say the least.
We always need best practices, and brainstorming sessions are no different. They can be very creative and helpful but need a structured approach. Since I was sharing this checklist with my client, I decided to share it with everyone.
- Define a Clear Objective
Why are you gathering to brainstorm? What are you looking to achieve? You need to have a clear and specific goal such as a timeline, a new process, a flowchart of distribution of tasks, or even a project meeting to brainstorm how we will achieve success (a plan).
By having a well-defined objective, you can keep the discussion focused and ensure that what you are hoping to brainstorm about is what you are creating instead of creating many great ideas that go nowhere after the meeting.
Imagine the admin team is creating their Administrative Professional’s Day celebration at work. They want more admins to be aware of their internal group and to attend the annual celebration lunch and educational workshop. Instead of saying, “Let’s come up with ideas on how to get as much admin participation as possible,” we define the objective as: “Generate five innovative internal campaign ideas to increase registration by 20% over the next three months.” This ensures that the brainstorming team is focused on increasing awareness to ensure registration. It keeps the team focused.
- Set Ground Rules
Some people are highly creative, and brainstorming meetings give them energy. The problem is that energy can stifle others, squash other great ideas, and create havoc. That’s just one example of why we need to have rules. Establishing ground rules ensures respectful communication, prevents idea dismissal, and keeps the session structured.
Some good examples of brainstorming ground rules:
– No idea is too wild—every suggestion is welcome.
– Build on others’ ideas instead of shutting them down. Say, “Yes, and” instead of “No.”
– No interruptions; let people finish speaking.
– Don’t discount ideas when presented. Don’t say things like, “We won’t get that kind of budget,” or “We did that years ago, and it didn’t work,” or “Is that a serious idea? No way.”
– Stay focused on the topic.
These rules encourage an open exchange of ideas without fear of judgment. If anyone on the team feels that they will be challenged, dismissed, or laughed at, they won’t participate. I know I’ve been in brainstorming meetings and felt censured by others, which is horrible. It makes me shut down, and it will 100% change the energy of the meeting.
- Use Structured Techniques
Rather than letting conversations flow aimlessly, structured brainstorming techniques enhance productivity and idea generation. Using methods such as Brainwriting, SCAMPER, and Reverse Brainstorming can help guide discussions effectively.
Example: A nonprofit organization looking to improve community engagement uses the SCAMPER method:
– Substitute: What if we replaced in-person events with virtual ones?
– Combine: Can we merge fundraising with educational workshops?
– Adapt: How do successful businesses engage their communities?
– Modify: Can we tweak our approach to target younger audiences?
– Put to another use: Can we use our volunteer database for outreach initiatives?
– Eliminate: Are there redundant steps in our outreach process?
– Reverse: What if we had the community create engagement ideas for us?
This technique expands thinking beyond conventional approaches.
- Ensure Inclusivity & Diverse Perspectives
I know I’m not the only one who likes to work with my friends. I enjoy working with people who think like me. But I’m not getting a diverse perspective when I include my friends on my brainstorming committee. We all feel the same and are likely to come up with similar ideas when we need a range of ideas instead.
The best brainstorming sessions include voices from different backgrounds, experiences, and expertise. Invite the people that irritate you, those you don’t know, and others from various departments. You will get better solutions.
Imagine a city planning department brainstorming urban sustainability initiatives that invite stakeholders beyond internal staff, including local business owners, environmental activists, and community leaders. By incorporating multiple perspectives, they will have a more comprehensive understanding of the community’s needs and generate solutions that are both creative and practical.
The city staff members alone don’t have that same perspective, even if they are taxpayers and live in the city. Everyone brings their own experiences and viewpoints to the table, which is far more successful than one set of voices.
5. Prioritize & Refine Ideas
Let’s be totally honest here: not all ideas generated in a brainstorming session will be feasible or impactful. Prioritization techniques such as Dot Voting, the Impact/Effort Grid, or the MoSCoW method (Must have, Should have, Could have, Won’t have) can help narrow down the best ideas.
Imagine a software company holds a brainstorming session to improve user experience in their app. They generate 30 ideas, ranging from adding a chatbot to redesigning the entire interface. Using an Impact/Effort Grid, they categorize ideas based on their feasibility and potential impact. This helps them focus on high-impact, low-effort solutions like simplifying navigation menus before committing to complex, resource-heavy changes.
- Assign Accountability & Follow-Up
Like you, I’ve been in many brainstorming sessions that completely failed. But they don’t always fail because we don’t have enough ideas. Many brainstorming sessions fail because no one takes responsibility for execution. Assigning ownership to specific ideas and setting deadlines ensures that innovation turns into action.
When I was chatting to the client I mentioned in the first paragraph, we spent a lot of time on this point. Just brainstorming and expecting things to change is a total waste of time. We need everyone to be willing to accept responsibility and to keep the entire team in the loop regarding the progress of the ideas.
Assign each idea to a project owner and add deadlines for implementation. Schedule a follow-up meeting to review progress and address challenges. Get an online chat channel or SharePoint site to share information. Keep everyone informed and committed.
A successful brainstorming session is not just about generating ideas—it’s about fostering an environment where creativity thrives, ideas are refined, and implementation is ensured. By following this checklist, you can maximize the impact of your brainstorming efforts and create innovative solutions that drive real results.
This article was written by Rhonda Scharf and not by artificial intelligence.
