Business brainstorming is defined as “the mulling over of ideas one or more individuals in an attempt to devise or find a solution to a problem”. With just this definition, it’s easy to see that brainstorming successfully, is vital to the success of a business.
Idea generation, is necessary in business. Business brainstorming is a key component of successful idea generation. This is important during the egg stage of a business formation.
Business brainstorming can be used for new product ideas, new marketing campaigns, internal procedures, company structure and written articles. It all depends on the type of business and the approach that the entrepreneur takes to collaborations.
Why business brainstorming?
- Collecting Viewpoints: Ask! The best way to find out how people feel about your product or service or the way in which a company is structured or even internal processes is fairly obvious – ask them! As an entrepreneur, your viewpoint may be different to that of the people on the ground. Brainstorming and collecting the viewpoints of others helps to create ideas and innovations that impact the businesses.
- Encourages Thoughts: Inviting the wider stakeholders of a company into brainstorming encourages entrepreneurs at all levels to think critically about current issues or future goals – and this is likely to feed into their future endeavors within the entrepreneurial journey.
- Builds Team Relationships: Instead of one entrepreneur feeling the pressure to come up with an amazing new idea, brainstorming allows to share the load of innovation, and encourages entrepreneurs to work together respectfully and responsibly, to develop ideas and create viable solutions to problems.
How do you build an environment that encourages brainstorming?
There are no set rules or regulations for brainstorming sessions , that’s part of the beauty of it. Focus groups are a good way to encourage an environment for brainstorming. Besides them, there are a few things you can do to create a culture of brainstorming and idea generation.
Avoid Judging Ideas Immediately:People are far more likely to share their ideas and visions in a comfortable and supportive space – arrange to include all ideas, record all ideas, and make the time to judge them on their merits at a later date. People need to feel able to share any ideas they may have – create an inclusive and non-judgemental space to accommodate.
Encourage a Little ‘Crazy’: Encourage a few wild ideas from your staff and stakeholders. These so-called ‘crazy’ ideas can be adjusted later, if required – but remember that many of the world’s best inventions and creations came from a bizarre idea. Be open to exploring everything.
Think of Ideas as Building Blocks: Nobody comes into a brainstorming session with the world’s most perfect, affordable, useful and marketable product or service in mind. Allow your brainstormers to build on each other’s ideas, often, another person’s idea is what sparks someone else’s creativity. Many ideas can be combined and integrated to great effect… allow the idea to develop organically wherever possible.
Keep Focused on the Task at Hand: If you’re part of a growing business, with many exciting opportunities, then that is fantastic – but it can be very detrimental to successful brainstorming. If you’re holding a brainstorming meeting for a particular issue, perhaps around themes for a coming event, then ensure that your discussions stay focused on that, and don’t veer into uncharted territory like product ideas for the coming year. Keep confusion to a minimum.
Create a Display: Visuals are a great addition to brainstorming meetings, arrange for a whiteboard, or colourful stationery supplies for those involved. This will help people to connect images to their ideas, and build on the ideas of others.
These are just a few ideas to help implement a well-organised brainstorming session – but it’s definitely not an exhaustive list. What experience do you have with brainstorming sessions and idea generation?
Brainstorm a few suggestions and tell us in the comments – I’d love to hear what you think!
