An infinite amount of ideas are generated every day but a few ideas are converted to reality. It is a known belief that for a great outcome, great strategies are required.
Teamwork, Collaboration, and Group discussion are all believed to be effective strategies that help to generate an awestruck idea. However, most of the time, the opposite happens as such group activities do not come out as being effective and efficient. Some of the teammates tend to overpower others in such discussions which limits the diversity in ideas and at last the outcome of such team activities is nothing but meaningless chatter. So, how can we resolve this problem?
The answer is by doing effective brainstorming.
What is brainstorming?
Brainstorming means when people solve problems in a group where everyone contributes with creative ideas and solutions. It involves free-flowing and uninhibited sharing of thoughts in a group or individually. The goal is to encourage innovative thinking and foster collaboration for better solutions.
When there are unclear goals, dominating participants restrain others, or groupthink takes over, brainstorming may not be effective. Furthermore, it may provide superficial ideas if participants are ill-prepared or the process is poorly managed. Individual reflection might produce superior results in some circumstances.
Therefore, a few golden rules of brainstorming must be followed which are explained below:
A strong starting point for discussion :
The creation of one amazing idea is the result of the combination of various thoughts, opinions, and perspectives. First of all, an abstract outline should be made which focuses on the objective of the discussion. The abstract outline can be based on similar research done in the past. This will give the group members a solid foundation to work on. Once the foundation is built, everyone involved in the brainstorming session can contribute with their unique ideas which will properly assist in the creation of the perfect solution to an existing problem.
Aim quantity over quality :
We have all heard that quality should always be the focus, not the quantity. However, in the case of brainstorming it is just quite the opposite. A greater amount of ideas should be welcomed to come up with that perfect idea. More discussion will lead to better solutions. The time of group meetings should be extended where possible. This will also help to improve the understanding among the team members.
Make Brainstorming sessions visual and collaborative :
Rather than writing every opinion, it is wise to make the brainstorming sessions more visually appealing by using diagrams to showcase the ideas presented. One of the most popular ways is using mind maps. Mind maps and various charts can help team members visualize their ideas. For example, if a team member is working on designing a package for a product, the best way is to make drafts of the product packaging designs and alter them accordingly. As everyone can collaborate on making mind maps and diagrams, the results of the brainstorming session will come out to be more effective.
Do not criticize others’ ideas :
Every idea has the potential to be something big. So, it is advised not to demean the arguments given by other members as harsh feedback can directly affect their motivation to participate in group discussions. Constructive feedback which will help the members understand the shortcomings of their proposed solutions is the best way to deal with weak ideas. Every team member engaged in group discussions should be provided with equal opportunity to present their views and opinions to make the most out of each and every brainstorming session.
It is difficult to achieve complete effectiveness in a brainstorming session on the first try. Nevertheless, all the aforementioned suggestions should be kept in mind which might lead to a subsequent increase in the effectiveness and efficiency of brainstorming sessions, making it possible to generate the most distinctive ideas.
Remember! Every idea matters.
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Writer,
Fatema Tuz Zohora
Intern, Content Writing Department
YSSE.
Key words: YSSE blog, Content Writing, Fatema Tuz Zohra, Brainstorming, collaboration.