eTip #13: Smart Brainstorming

Brainstorming is a good way for two or more individuals to generate ideas and thoughts quickly. When two or more gather, there will always be more ideas and thoughts and the process can be quite fun. Below are some smart ways to make sure you get the most out of your brainstorming:

There are no bad ideas
During a brainstorm session, no ideas are bad. The purpose of a brainstorm session is to gather as many ideas and thoughts as possible. After the brainstorm session is over, you can then evaluate and talk through the ideas that were generated during the brainstorm session.

Record everything
Write everything down on a large piece of paper or board that everyone can see. It is a good idea to have ideas and thoughts that were generated during the brainstorm session visible to everyone.

Quantity vs. quality
The amount of ideas and thoughts is more important than the quality of ideas and thoughts.

Build on ideas
Encourage participants to build on each other’s ideas and thoughts. One thought from someone can sometimes spark an idea in others.

Set a time limit
A time limit builds pressure to have a productive brainstorm session and makes sure everyone is focused and on track with a purpose.

Next time you face a marketing challenge at your company, try brainstorming and see what it can do for you.

 

Previous  |  Next  |  Back to eTips