Today, brainstorming is used to find solutions in business, creativity, and personal relationships. Its effectiveness largely depends on the correct organization of the process. Experts have formed 8 rules, which will be discussed below.
- Training. Suddenness in such a creative process is not the best assistant. Therefore, it is better to warn participants about brainstorming a few days in advance. During this time, they will have time to think about the question in advance. An exception to this rule may be force majeure situations.
- There are many participants. The rule "the more the better" just falls into the "golden ten" of effective brainstorming. The process becomes even more interesting if people with different vectors of thinking, different positions and ranks participate in it. You can also use third-party resources, freelancers, people outside the company. The outcomes of such brainstorming sessions can be unexpected.
- Formulation of the problem. It is recommended that the beginning of the process be devoted to clarifying the issue under study, its details, that is, to tune the participants to one creative wave.
- Everything is on record. All ideas that are voiced during the brainstorming process must be recorded. To do this, one person is selected from the team to be the leader. Objectivity, attentiveness and speed are required of him. It is better to use visual aids (for example, whiteboards) for writing.
- No criticism. This rule applies to the idea generation phase. Absolutely all options should be accepted, even ridiculous and fantastic ones. Often it is the last, approximate realities that are taken for solving the problem.
- Warm atmosphere. To generate as many ideas as possible, it is recommended to create a comfortable, relaxed environment. After all, inexperienced participants may be shy and not voice their thoughts due to the dominance of their superiors or high-ranking employees. To avoid such situations, private (or anonymous) generation is sometimes used. Each participant writes down the options on paper and throws them into a common ballot box. However, this method reduces creativity and interferes with thought interaction.
- Integration of ideas. Combining the options proposed by the participants of various positions and improving them will also help to increase the effectiveness of brainstorming.
- Modeling. At the generation stage, forecasting is also important. For example, a decision was made, but when it was implemented, everything turned out in the opposite way to the plans. Such modeling helps to generate additional sludge, as well as psychologically hardens and prepares employees for any situation.
