Tips for better brainstorming

We have to take important decisions every moment of our lives. And even at work, our management body organizes special meetings where employees are required to offer new and innovative ideas to develop the company. As a rule most employees try to make “smart” face expression and wait until conference finishes. Others provide absolutely useless ideas. It is important to organize the whole process very effective both for the company and employees. Shawn Coyne, co-author of "Brainsteering: A better approach to breakthrough ideas," provides very interesting ideas in his book.

Don’t think outside the box. When company has limited resources and abilities, all ideas that can’t be fulfilled are useless. So it is very important to set up very clear goals and prospects for employees before asking them to generate ideas. It is always easier to make an exciting idea practical, than a dull but practical idea exciting. So, create a box very careful, and let your imagination flow.

Ask the right questions. When you manage to set the right question, you’ll get the best answers. You ask your employees how to get profits million times a year, so there is no surprise you get the same answers and solutions. Try to see the problems from new angles. Doe example you can ask what’s customers’ the biggest hassle in using company’s products. Or what else you can offer them. It is important to start a conversation, and ideas will appear for sure.

Scale down. If you have 20 people in the room, you’ll have three talking loudly and 17 keeping silence. It is better to divide people into groups of three to five people. This will let everyone express his ideas and won’t allow anyone to be apart.

Be selective. It is important to cast "idea crushers" off. There are three types of such people: "big mouths," who squeeze out air-time for the less forthcoming; "subject matter experts," who can intimidate others with their presumed superior knowledge; and bosses, who can intimidate just by being in the same room.”

Remain focused. It is difficult to provide good ideas during two hours. It is better to discuss one question no longer that half an hour. Also it is good to make everyone write down his initial idea on the paper and pass it to the next person. This way, you can get really good collective solutions.