Basic Brainstorming Ground RulesBrainstorming is usually conducted in a group setting, and is designed to produce a bunch of ideas to help in finding a solutions or answer to a challenge or problem. When a new problem or challenge is being presented to the group, you should set up some brainstorming ground rules. This will not only aid in the team work and quality of the brainstorming meeting, but also in the quantity of the ideas that can be generated in finding a solution to the problem. There are several basic brainstorming ground rules that you can set for your team. They are first, to encourage unusual ideas. One of the most helpful tools you can teach your team, is to embrace new perspectives. The purpose of holding a team brainstorming meeting is to produce new solutions and ideas that you would not have thought of yourself.
Second, hold back any and all criticism. The purpose of your brainstorming session is to generate ideas, by encouraging new and different ways of thinking. This will be stifled immediately if any criticism is voiced during the ideas process. Suspend judgment and conversation about the individual ideas until later in your brainstorming meetings.
You also need the group to concentrate on the quantity of ideas generated, The more ideas, the better and no matter how off the wall they may seem at the time, don’t dismiss them. The old adage that quantity breeds quality is definitely a factor to effective brainstorming ground rules. The more ideas that you can generate, the better your chances are of finding a valuable solution to your problem.
Finally, be open to building and improving upon the ideas generated. The problem that you are trying to find a solution to must be clear, and defined. The ideas that your group may generate may not seem to like solutions to the problem, or to even make sense individually, but perhaps by combining, exploring and adding onto a few single ideas, you may find a great solution.
By letting your brainstorming team know that basic ground rules up front, you will have a much smoother and more productive process. If you find that your group faces a few more challenges, enforce a few more ground rules that are particular to your own situation. |