Brainstorming is one of the most effective tools for solving any problem, generating ideas, setting goals. It can be useful for top managers, executives, consultants, project managers and all those who are looking for solutions or ways to improve the efficiency of their work or their staff.
Instructions
Step 1
At the preparatory stage, you need to define the task, as well as set the goals that you want to achieve. Then a team should be formed. The most suitable number of Brainstormers is from 5 to 10 people. Ideally, they should be significantly different from each other and have different positions in relation to a specific task.
Step 2
It is advisable to warn about brainstorming in advance (about 2-3 days in advance), to voice the task. This will give the participants the time to prepare for the necessary preparations. Among them, there must be openly and actively thinking creatives, as well as skeptics who carefully and critically weigh any issue and solution. Sometimes roles are specifically assigned to employees. A special role belongs to the so-called provocateur, who must tune the participants to a creative mood. Usually, the brainstorming leader himself acts as a provocateur.
Step 3
In most cases, brainstorming is structured like this:
- preliminary warm-up - 5 minutes;
- creation (generation) of ideas - from 20 to 30 minutes;
- discussion - 20 minutes;
- summing up - from 3 to 5 minutes.
Step 4
During the warm-up, one should understand "why we are all gathered here today." The presenter needs to voice the rules and regulations of the assault, as well as help the participants in the event to tune in to the creative wave. For example, you can draw the attention of those present to the CD and ask them to think about how it can be related to their activities. Alternatively, you can use an association game or do a physical warm-up.
Step 5
After the warm-up, you need to move on to generating ideas. At this stage, the participants in the assault must throw up ideas, any, even the most insane. All thoughts should be written down on paper. You don't need to pay attention to the quality of ideas. The most important thing here is speed and quantity, maintaining an atmosphere of creativity and a feeling of maximum freedom for the participants. If it is easier for someone to think while lying down, it is worth offering him to sit on the couch. It is important to ensure that the participants do not have any judgments or criticism.
Step 6
If there is "stagnation" and the discussion does not progress, you need to stir up the participants in the assault. For example, you can arrange a competition for the dumbest idea. It is also necessary to involve everyone present. Some people don't answer until asked in person. If the situation is completely deadlocked, it is worth taking a short break for 2-3 minutes.
Step 7
After all the ideas of all the participants have been expressed, they need to be analyzed. Here you need to answer the question "How well does this idea solve the problem?"
Step 8
In the process of assault, the brain must work alternately in a creative flight of fantasy and in strict discipline. Therefore, brainstorming is a great excuse to relax your brain and eventually come up with an interesting concept. Here it is not only allowed, but also encouraged to improvise in every possible way, to resort to the associative method and a non-standard view of the problem.