Five ways to
brainstorm better at work
Brainstorming sessions can be conducted productively as well as creatively. A little planning, fun and focus can help you arrive at solutions more promptly and effectively. Unplanned sessions without any thought can be disasters, discouraging team members from attending the next one. However, conducting these sessions can be child's play if you keep certain basics in mind, says Prachi Verma.
1) Ensure Everyone Participates
Every team member
should not only be present but a system should also be put in place to ensure
everyone participates. SAMI Group, Group CEO, VG Nair suggests that a judgement
should be deferred in case all the people in a team are not present.
2) Hear Out Everyone
No suggestions or
ideas should be ignored. Till the time all the suggestions are not heard, no
decision should be taken. "Fill the gaps by bringing in each and every
idea, no matter how insane, to the table," says Ambareesh Murty, founder
and CEO at Pepperfry.com.
3) Bring in the Fun Element
3) Bring in the Fun Element
Do not let the
brainstorming session get dull and boring. Make it exciting with elements like
visuals, videos, doodles, etc. Also focus on making the session interactive,
with less preaching. Ask all the speakers to try and be creative while
conveying their point.
4) Stick to the Objective
4) Stick to the Objective
Do not digress from
the goal of reaching a solution for a problem. Keep steering the discussion to
the right path. If any member misses the path then politely nudge him or her to
stick to the problem. "Stay focused on the topic and try keeping the discussion
on track," says Nair.
5) De-Jargonise the
Interaction
Try to be simple and
yet expressive in every interaction. Remember, the idea is not to impress
anyone. "Try to speak like the customer and do not use any jargon,"
says Murty. Jargon might be a turn-off for team members.
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