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During brainstorming sessions, it may be challenging to get people motivated. Sitting in a meeting room and throwing out ideas can be incredibly dull for some people.
And, if you’re not the one leading the session, it can be hard to participate when you’re not sure what’s expected of you.
Brainstorming sessions don’t have to be dull. There are fun and innovative ways to make them more enjoyable.
By incorporating some creativity and humor into the process, you can make team-building exercises more engaging, stimulate new ideas, and help everyone feel more relaxed and comfortable.
Keep reading if you’re looking for a different approach to spice up your next brainstorming meeting.
1. Play Music that Inspires You:
The work culture in New Zealand is relaxed and informal. Playing background music that makes people feel at ease and allows them to open up during a brainstorming session is one of the most effective strategies.
It could be anything from upbeat pop songs to classical music or jazz. By playing music that people are drawn to, you can help create a more positive and creative environment and help jump-start imagination and increase productivity.
Music also unites people and creates a sense of togetherness to be great for team-building exercises. If you are a New Zealander, all your workmates agree on playing ‘don’t dream it’s over’ or ‘counting the beat’ by the Crowded House to get into the kiwi spirit.
Get your hands on the Soundproof office pods in NZ and secretly (or not) groove to your favorite tunes while you work!
2. Draw Inspiration from Games and Puzzles!
A game or puzzle is a fantastic technique to break the ice and get everyone’s creative juices flowing. You can use classic party games like charades or Pictionary or try something new like company-themed trivia.
This will help everyone warm up for brainstorming sessions and generate new ideas. If you’re stuck on how to solve a problem, looking at it from a different perspective can often be helpful.
Try this: Use pieces of paper or cardboard as ‘cards’ and write ideas on them. Then, shuffle the cards and group them based on their similarities.
This method is similar to playing cards, and it’s a great way to get your brains working in different directions.
3. Lightning Decision Jam:
Consider using a Lightning Decision Jam if you’re looking for a more structured way to brainstorm. This approach involves breaking participants into small groups and giving them a specific time to develop ideas.
Once the timer starts ticking, there’s no stopping until the group has exhausted all its options! It can be a great way to get everyone thinking on their feet, and it often leads to some very creative solutions.
This technique is perfect for remote team alignment and problem-solving.
4. Brainstorming Bingo:
This is the best game for people who love competing! Brainstorming Bingo is just like regular Bingo, but each square contains a different brainstorming prompt instead of numbers.
To play, participants have to come up with the idea that corresponds with the prompt in the square. The first person to complete a row or column is the winner!
This game is great for groups who need a little extra push to get their creative juices flowing. Not to mention, it’s a lot of fun!
5. Take Breaks and Starbust:
During brainstorming sessions, it’s essential to take breaks to keep everyone energized and focused. However, it can be challenging to stay motivated when the break involves getting up and leaving the room.
It is where Starburst comes in: give each participant a piece of candy (or another type of snack) every time they come up with an idea.
This keeps people alert and engaged, but it’s also a fun way to show your appreciation for their contributions.
Starbusting is a thinking technique that encourages you to develop many ideas quickly.
The method starts with a core concept and then creates lines out, brainstorming ideas for each. After you’ve accumulated a lot of thoughts, you may begin clustering them together to identify any patterns.
6. Pick Up a Pencil and Draw:
It may seem strange to brainstorm, but it can be pretty effective. It can also help you communicate your thoughts more clearly to others. By sketching out your ideas, you’re forced to think visually and develop new ways to represent them.
You can also involve your team members by giving them each a different color and having them sketch out their ideas on separate pieces of paper. It will help you see how others are thinking and get new perspectives.
7. Round Robin Stimulator:
Round and round, and round we go! This brainstorming method is excellent for having a large group and getting everyone’s ideas out there.
Each group member comes up with one idea and writes it down. Then, they pass it to the person next to them, who builds on that idea and adds their own. People continue to offer ideas until everyone has had a turn.
You may also accomplish this digitally by making a Google Doc or Slides presentation and passing it around to your team. Each person can add their comments or ideas directly onto the document.
8. Talk Over Food?
Some people find that they are more creative when talking over food. If this sounds like you, try scheduling your brainstorming sessions around mealtimes. This will make it more convenient and help keep the conversation flowing.
There’s no need to limit oneself to sandwiches and salads! Why not host a potluck dinner instead? This way, everyone can share their ideas while enjoying some delicious home cooking.
Moreover, it is an excellent way to bring the team together and build morale.
9. Six Thinking Hats:
It is what it says it is! To use this brainstorming method, you’ll need at least six individuals to don pretend hats—hence the name—and only consider an idea from one perspective.
One person might be wearing an impact cap and thinking about the influence of a concept, while another may be wearing a limitations hat and merely considering the limits of a notion.
You are free to choose and pick which angles are essential to your company. By the conclusion of the group conversation, everyone in the brainstorming session should feel confident about the concepts you’ll pursue.
Bottom Line:
These are just a few ways to make brainstorming sessions more enjoyable and productive. So the next time you’re feeling stuck, give one of these a try! You might be surprised by the results.
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