Brainstorming: 3 methods that work
Brainstorming is a technique for generating ideas to solve a problem or understand a situation. It is based on different methods that are specific and adapted to each objective. Brainstorming is often carried out in a workgroup within a company.
Here are three different methods that will help you to come up with innovative solutions to your problem and make your brainstorming sessions a success.
1
It is a well known fact that having your head in the sand sometimes prevents you from seeing the obvious. Invite participants from different departments and from other companies to create synergy in the group. This will help you to get an outsider's view of your problem and some innovative ideas may emerge.
DIVERSIFY THE PARTICIPANTS
Selecting the right participants is important, as the relevance of the ideas largely depends on them. Therefore, engage a competent facilitator to better guide and facilitate the generating of ideas in the group. You should also call upon different personalities with different backgrounds. The facilitator can benefit from the rich experience of each.It is a well known fact that having your head in the sand sometimes prevents you from seeing the obvious. Invite participants from different departments and from other companies to create synergy in the group. This will help you to get an outsider's view of your problem and some innovative ideas may emerge.
2
After the presentation of the topic, each participant receives a sheet of paper divided into six rows and three columns. Each participant is then asked to write his or her three ideas down in the table. After five minutes, each participant hands over his or her paper to the person on the right. In turn, the neighbour on the right has five minutes to complete the first three ideas written by the neighbour on the left. This process is repeated until all the charts are filled in, making a total of 108 ideas.
At the end, a synthesis of the solutions produced will be made in order to select the best ideas and submit them for discussion.
USE THE 635 METHOD
The 635 method is an idea generation technique that is similar to brainwriting. The process consists of producing new ideas based on those put forward by other participants. The principle can be summarised as follows: 6 people for 3 ideas in 5 minutes.After the presentation of the topic, each participant receives a sheet of paper divided into six rows and three columns. Each participant is then asked to write his or her three ideas down in the table. After five minutes, each participant hands over his or her paper to the person on the right. In turn, the neighbour on the right has five minutes to complete the first three ideas written by the neighbour on the left. This process is repeated until all the charts are filled in, making a total of 108 ideas.
At the end, a synthesis of the solutions produced will be made in order to select the best ideas and submit them for discussion.
3
For example, if you ask yourself the question "How can we be closer to our customers?", then the question using the reverse thinking method would be: "How can we be even less close to our customers?" In this way, the solutions that emerge can simply be reversed to a positive approach. However, the problem must be clearly identified, the risks carefully assessed, and the issues at stake identified. Note: provide a flipchart so that you can write down the ideas as they emerge.
A brainstorming session can be organised in different ways. The important thing is to find the method that will bring out an innovative solution. To be sure you have covered all the ideas, don't hesitate to use several techniques in one session.
OPT FOR REVERSE THINKING
Reverse thinking is a popular brainstorming technique in marketing and communications. It allows you to extend the scope of your search for ideas by tackling the problem the other way round, in order to produce more attractive solutionsFor example, if you ask yourself the question "How can we be closer to our customers?", then the question using the reverse thinking method would be: "How can we be even less close to our customers?" In this way, the solutions that emerge can simply be reversed to a positive approach. However, the problem must be clearly identified, the risks carefully assessed, and the issues at stake identified. Note: provide a flipchart so that you can write down the ideas as they emerge.
A brainstorming session can be organised in different ways. The important thing is to find the method that will bring out an innovative solution. To be sure you have covered all the ideas, don't hesitate to use several techniques in one session.