![\"\"](\"https://www.seebtm.com/wp-content/uploads/foto-1.jpg\")
The father of brainstorming is considered to be Alex Faickney Osborn, a creativity theorist who focused on advertising and writing. And as someone wise once said, \u201cThe best ideas for solving a problem come from the problem itself\u201d in Osborn\u2019s case, this turned out to be completely true. Namely, he was very frustrated with the inability of each employee to individually develop creative ideas for advertising campaigns. So in 1939 he started developing methods for creative problem solving \u2013 group thinking sessions \u2013 and found significant progress both in the quality and the quantity of his employees\u2019 ideas.
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Osborn claimed that there are four general rules for brainstorming: quantity (the assumption is that the greater the number of ideas, the greater the chance for an effective solution), refraining from criticism, supporting \u201ccrazy\u201d ideas, and improving ideas by combining different ones.
\nStart with the worst ideas
\nThis already sounds fun ![\"\ud83d\ude42\"](\"https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/12.0.0-1/72x72/1f642.png\")
. Joking aside, brainstorming will be successful only if everyone involved feels positive while spit balling everything that comes to their mind regardless of whether the ideas are \u201cworth gold\u201d or not. There are always members in the team who are worried that they will look stupid in front of their colleagues or incompetent for a particular issue. That\u2019s why you should spend the first ten minutes thinking of as many bad ideas as possible. People will be delighted, entertained, and have a sense of freedom that is much needed in these situations.
Play wordplay
\nThis game can serve as a powerful weapon against ordinary, unoriginal or old ideas. Write down a single word and then say out loud all the words that come to your mind, prompted by the written one. Think about the function of the word, the way it is used and the metaphors with which it can be associated. Don\u2019t overthink and let the ideas be spontaneous, because the point is for the exercise to be creative. When you gather a sufficient number of suggestions, group them according to how they play off one another. The goal is to find those less visible and obvious words and phrases with which the target audience (for example, the intended product buyers) can relate.
\n![\"\"](\"https://www.seebtm.com/wp-content/uploads/foto-2.jpg\")
Long live doodling!
\nDoodling encourages creativity, increases attention, and makes room in your short-term and long-term memory. Brainstorming is usually based on talking and reading, and doodling helps the participants let go of the traditional and established and directs their minds to look at things from another angle and perspective. You\u2019re wondering what to doodle? Choose two things that have nothing to do with each other. For example, chocolate and a car. Think about how you can make a link between them. Maybe you\u2019ll draw a chocolate car. Thinking about all the elements of certain objects helps you to see them in a new light and function.
\nAnother way for your team to come up with inspiring, good ideas which includes drawings to draw a picture that is most directly related to the concept being discussed. The drawing then goes to the next person who needs to draw on the same paper another picture that is related to the first one, and the process is repeated until everyone finishes. The final drawing is discussed at the end and the group sees the connections that the individual was unable to notice.
\nReverse process
\nBrainstorming is used for solving problems, this is something you already know. However, try out a different approach. Ask your team members to think of a few ways to cause the particular problem. Start by asking \u201cHow could we cause this problem?\u201d As soon as you get a list of excellent suggestions for creating the problem, move straight on to solving them.
\n![\"\"](\"https://www.seebtm.com/wp-content/uploads/foto-3.jpg\")
Why is brainstorming good?
\nFirst, a lot of ideas are generated in a short period of time. Second, it doesn\u2019t cost anything. Third, the mood and the team\u2019s productivity are improved. The participants are creatively motivated. Finally, solutions that are accepted by one group are easier to implement into further work. Here\u2019s what \u201cnegative\u201d brainstorming looks like in practice:
\nBrainstorming question: \u201cHow can we create a good and functional service for complaints?\u201d
\nNegative brainstorming question: \u201cHow can we create such a poor service for complaints that not a single customer would want to contact us?\u201d
Creative fatigue
\nDespite all of this, sometimes brainstorming simply does not bring the desired results. It can seem that you literally have no creativity or ideas left in you. You can\u2019t solve the problem, no matter how hard you try. At this point, you need a pick-me-up. You need to distance yourself from the problem. Here are some brainstorming techniques that are both entertaining and can lead you to potentially good ideas:
\n![\"\"](\"https://www.seebtm.com/wp-content/uploads/foto-4.jpg\")
Time travel. Ask yourself this: How would I deal with this problem if I were in another time period? Ten, hundred, or thousand years ago. Or in ten, hundred, or thousand years.
\nTeleportation \u2013 how would you face the situation if you were in a different place, country, or continent?
\nChange: what if you were of a different gender, age, height, weight, or nationality?
\nSuperpowers: imagine that you are Superman, Spiderman, or X-Man and ask yourself what they would do.
\nSWOT analysis \u2013 do it!
\nReverse thinking. Think about what people would usually do in your situation. And then you do the exact opposite!
\nMeditate: focus on \u201chow can I reach my goal?\u201d and meditate in a calmer place. Make sure you have a pen and paper at hand, because you never know when your idea will come.
\nAnd last but not least…
\nRemember, brainstorming makes sense only if it\u2019s fun! Good ideas never come from a bad mood. Also, if you\u2019re forcing yourself or your team to be creative and productive, it\u2019s most likely that nothing will come out of it. So, set the mood – bring coffee, tea, pizza, and donuts
\nfor everyone. Play light music in the background. It\u2019s even advisable to stand up and walk around the room during the process, you don\u2019t have to just sit. Make your team feel relaxed, be informal, and get ready for an avalanche of good ideas!
The post Make Brainstorming Fun appeared first on SEE Business travel & meetings magazine.
\n", "content_text": "Brainstorming is a creative group activity that serves to find solutions to a specific problem by pooling the participants\u2019 spontaneous ideas and suggestions.\nThe father of brainstorming is considered to be Alex Faickney Osborn, a creativity theorist who focused on advertising and writing. And as someone wise once said, \u201cThe best ideas for solving a problem come from the problem itself\u201d in Osborn\u2019s case, this turned out to be completely true. Namely, he was very frustrated with the inability of each employee to individually develop creative ideas for advertising campaigns. So in 1939 he started developing methods for creative problem solving \u2013 group thinking sessions \u2013 and found significant progress both in the quality and the quantity of his employees\u2019 ideas.\n\nOsborn claimed that there are four general rules for brainstorming: quantity (the assumption is that the greater the number of ideas, the greater the chance for an effective solution), refraining from criticism, supporting \u201ccrazy\u201d ideas, and improving ideas by combining different ones.\nStart with the worst ideas\nThis already sounds fun . Joking aside, brainstorming will be successful only if everyone involved feels positive while spit balling everything that comes to their mind regardless of whether the ideas are \u201cworth gold\u201d or not. There are always members in the team who are worried that they will look stupid in front of their colleagues or incompetent for a particular issue. That\u2019s why you should spend the first ten minutes thinking of as many bad ideas as possible. People will be delighted, entertained, and have a sense of freedom that is much needed in these situations.\nPlay wordplay\nThis game can serve as a powerful weapon against ordinary, unoriginal or old ideas. Write down a single word and then say out loud all the words that come to your mind, prompted by the written one. Think about the function of the word, the way it is used and the metaphors with which it can be associated. Don\u2019t overthink and let the ideas be spontaneous, because the point is for the exercise to be creative. When you gather a sufficient number of suggestions, group them according to how they play off one another. The goal is to find those less visible and obvious words and phrases with which the target audience (for example, the intended product buyers) can relate.\n\nLong live doodling!\nDoodling encourages creativity, increases attention, and makes room in your short-term and long-term memory. Brainstorming is usually based on talking and reading, and doodling helps the participants let go of the traditional and established and directs their minds to look at things from another angle and perspective. You\u2019re wondering what to doodle? Choose two things that have nothing to do with each other. For example, chocolate and a car. Think about how you can make a link between them. Maybe you\u2019ll draw a chocolate car. Thinking about all the elements of certain objects helps you to see them in a new light and function.\nAnother way for your team to come up with inspiring, good ideas which includes drawings to draw a picture that is most directly related to the concept being discussed. The drawing then goes to the next person who needs to draw on the same paper another picture that is related to the first one, and the process is repeated until everyone finishes. The final drawing is discussed at the end and the group sees the connections that the individual was unable to notice.\nReverse process\nBrainstorming is used for solving problems, this is something you already know. However, try out a different approach. Ask your team members to think of a few ways to cause the particular problem. Start by asking \u201cHow could we cause this problem?\u201d As soon as you get a list of excellent suggestions for creating the problem, move straight on to solving them.\n\nWhy is brainstorming good?\nFirst, a lot of ideas are generated in a short period of time. Second, it doesn\u2019t cost anything. Third, the mood and the team\u2019s productivity are improved. The participants are creatively motivated. Finally, solutions that are accepted by one group are easier to implement into further work. Here\u2019s what \u201cnegative\u201d brainstorming looks like in practice:\nBrainstorming question: \u201cHow can we create a good and functional service for complaints?\u201d\nNegative brainstorming question: \u201cHow can we create such a poor service for complaints that not a single customer would want to contact us?\u201d\nCreative fatigue\nDespite all of this, sometimes brainstorming simply does not bring the desired results. It can seem that you literally have no creativity or ideas left in you. You can\u2019t solve the problem, no matter how hard you try. At this point, you need a pick-me-up. You need to distance yourself from the problem. Here are some brainstorming techniques that are both entertaining and can lead you to potentially good ideas:\n\nTime travel. Ask yourself this: How would I deal with this problem if I were in another time period? Ten, hundred, or thousand years ago. Or in ten, hundred, or thousand years.\nTeleportation \u2013 how would you face the situation if you were in a different place, country, or continent?\nChange: what if you were of a different gender, age, height, weight, or nationality?\nSuperpowers: imagine that you are Superman, Spiderman, or X-Man and ask yourself what they would do.\nSWOT analysis \u2013 do it!\nReverse thinking. Think about what people would usually do in your situation. And then you do the exact opposite!\nMeditate: focus on \u201chow can I reach my goal?\u201d and meditate in a calmer place. Make sure you have a pen and paper at hand, because you never know when your idea will come.\nAnd last but not least…\nRemember, brainstorming makes sense only if it\u2019s fun! Good ideas never come from a bad mood. Also, if you\u2019re forcing yourself or your team to be creative and productive, it\u2019s most likely that nothing will come out of it. So, set the mood – bring coffee, tea, pizza, and donuts\nfor everyone. Play light music in the background. It\u2019s even advisable to stand up and walk around the room during the process, you don\u2019t have to just sit. Make your team feel relaxed, be informal, and get ready for an avalanche of good ideas!\nThe post Make Brainstorming Fun appeared first on SEE Business travel & meetings magazine.", "date_published": "2018-04-30T11:57:17+02:00", "date_modified": "2018-04-30T11:57:17+02:00", "author": { "name": "Milica Novak", "url": "https://www.seebtm.com/en/author/milicanovak/", "avatar": "https://www.seebtm.com/wp-content/uploads/Milica-Novak.jpg" }, "image": "https://www.seebtm.com/wp-content/uploads/naslovna-39.jpg", "tags": [ "creativity", "ideas", "play and learn concept", "wordplay", "Hot topics" ] } ] }