10 Secrets to Successful Brainstorming
Stretch mental muscles Number your ideas
begin with warm up exercises numbered lists creates goals to motivate
Write playful rules Quantity over quality
“defer judgment,” “one conversation at a time,” a bad idea is the lack of ideas
“yes, but...”
Sharpen the focus Get physical
articulate the problem at hand with an outward focus brainstormings are show-and-tell. bring examples of
on your audience rather than internal goals competitors’ products or good solutions to the problem
Make the space remember 100% diverse participation
write all ideas down (don’t take notes - use scribes) encourage people of all backgrounds so there
are different perspectives
Build and jump Use toys and rules
brainstorms start slow, crescendo and plateau. leaders nurture, use toys and guns to throw when people break rules. it ensures
get out of the way, and jump back in when energy wanes people take rules seriously and not lose the spirit of creativity

6 Ways to Kill a Brainstorm
Let the boss speak first
everyone rushes to agree with him
Give everyone a turn
it is not a show
Ask the experts only
deep expertise in the field can be a drawback
No silly stuff
it is important. wild ideas welcomed. brainstorming is fun.
Everybody writing everything down
writing obsessively shifts focus to the wrong side of the brain.