15 November 2021, by Nur Nabilah Syafiqah binti Ramli
How often have you among your workmates? Even if you did not realise it, you would have probably done so at least once in your daily life. Brainstorming has been used to find solutions and come up with ways and suggestions to problems, for decades. Brainstorming is a technique for creating ideas in a group situation. It is a conference approach in which a group seeks to solve an issue by collecting all the suggestions and ideas from its members during the session. As a result of the session, each idea is categorised and ranked for further consideration.
HOW TO MAKE BRAINSTORMING EFFECTIVE?
- FOCUS ON THE MAIN TOPIC
Do you know what makes brainstorming effective? An effective brainstorming session enables the finest ideas to be obtained and extracted in order to improve a company’s objective. The elements to an effective brainstorming session are straightforward. To begin, the main problem or question should be expressed clearly so that each person in the group understands it. Spend some time by identifying the problems first among teammates, then list down on a white board or any piece of paper, ideas and solutions you have gained via brainstorming. By keeping track of how the brainstorming process progresses, you are more likely to remember the ideas. Remember to come up with as many ideas as possible, and you will have a better chance of developing a truly brilliant solution. Although not all solutions will be feasible, having a larger pool of ideas provides you with greater selection. This would significantly improve the quality of the responses and the number of various ideas created.
- FIND A FACILITATOR
It is important to have someone act as a primary facilitator in a brainstorming session where people are tossing their ideas. The facilitator should be able to stimulate ideas from the rest of the team as well as keep the meeting on track. Make a list of people to invite based on your focus on the outcomes. The facilitator must be fair and able to keep the meeting on course, and most importantly, he/she should have brainstorming experience. Many ideas and suggestions that arise during brainstorming sessions may be innovative, yet unrelated to the topic at hand. Thus, a facilitator can acknowledge these ideas and hold them aside for future consideration. Choose a facilitator who will ensure that everyone gets an opportunity to contribute. At the end of the session, the facilitator must be able to keep a record of the best ideas and clarify the next actions.
- WHO SHOULD INVOLVE?
The goal of brainstorming is to develop as much ideas as possible within a set period of time. An effective brainstorming session should run between 15 and 45 minutes. Those who have some connection to the issue and problem should be included in the session. Two or three persons who have no first-hand experience with the problem and whose learning abilities are vastly different, are also ideal. Not to forget the experts on the subject matter should also be present as well. For most brainstorming meetings, the number of participants should not exceed 10. Make sure that everyone gets an opportunity to engage and speak up their opinions.
- TAKE YOUR SESSION TO THE NEXT LEVEL
Everyone should know the goal of the ideation ahead of time so they can get prepared and contribute. Generally, there are several techniques used during brainstorming but the most frequently used is by distributing sticky notes to participants to jot down their ideas. The facilitator then needs to go through each idea one by one, seeking clarification as required. New ideas can be listed down on new notes. It is simpler to overcome cognitive biases by brainstorming questions rather than answers because it helps to encourages individuals to think more creatively while they are seeking for solutions. Additionally, you may wish to record the meeting using audio or video, as well as taking notes. The outcomes of the session can be included in the list of the top ideas. Remember, focus on quantity rather than quality.
Choosing the best ideas for action begins the planning process once the brainstorming is completed.
CHALLENGES
One of the biggest challenges is time management, especially for those who are time-poor. You will have to wait for these important people to show up or you will have to proceed regardless, knowing that they will not be present. To prevent this, all the teammates must be informed a few days before proceeding with the brainstorming session. This could help teammates to be prepared and ready with what to do.
However, it is natural for people to run into certain challenges while brainstorming. Eventually, some groups will have a difficult time coming up with additional ideas due to the fact that they have already addressed all the suggestions and thoughts. They may need a coffee break or some time to think. But if taking breaks do not help, try to revisit some of the ideas that are already being discussed.
In brainstorming sessions, letting one person dominate the discussion or allowing a few people to “opt out” is problematic since every group has its outspoken and shy members, and yet everyone is required to contribute to the brainstorming process. Hence, the round-robin technique would be helpful here, in which each person presents his/her idea, one at a time. Rather than letting people spend all their time waiting, call on them randomly to avoid this problem.
CONCLUSION
All in all, bringing people together around a shared topic or idea through brainstorming can reduce isolation among employees and improve their productivity. Brainstorming also helps bring out innovative ideas and enables people to create better design projects. Through brainstorming, all participants are encouraged to share their ideas. Moreover, people of different backgrounds and perspectives can offer a different thought in a safe space.