SolveYourProblem Article Series: Brainstorming
Brainstorming, Where Do I Begin?

Does Brainstorming Really Work?

While brainstorming remains one of the greatest opportunities for individuals and groups to produce superior results, not every brainstorming session is a productive one. In order to make sure the brainstorming sessions you conduct are the most effective possible, it helps to learn what elements can make a brainstorming fail. Several negative tendencies commonly occur in group dynamics that can be avoided if you’re aware of the potential for them ahead of time, and are vigilant in preventing them. Learn what factors common impact brainstorming sessions negatively and you empower yourself to thwart them before they ever take hold.

Dilution of Ideas

The potential exists in a room full of people, for ideas to get diluted and lose their impact. Likewise, in an effort to reach a solution, participants in a brainstorm are often too willing to compromise on their wildest ideas, therefore producing only the most bland and generic ideas most appealing to the lowest common denominator amongst the group.

The Power of One

Studies on brainstorming have shown that individuals typically produce a greater quantity of ideas in their brainstorming sessions alone than in a group brainstorm. It is far better, then, in many cases to ask individuals who would otherwise be participants in a group brainstorm to brainstorm on their own instead of or before a group brainstorming session.

Groupthink

Groupthink is when the group dynamics tends towards suppressing or resisting divergent modes of thinking within the group. Divergent modes of thinking is the lifeblood of brainstorming, and should be encouraged at all times.

Evaluation Apprehension

This detriment to brainstorming is when the group dynamics foster an irrational fear of being judged within the participants. This paranoia, however unreasonable it may be, can effectively squelch all creativity from each member of the group.

Status Deference

Participants in a group will tend to flock towards the ideas of those similar to or above them in perceived status, thus placing undue judgment - both positive and negative - on the ideas generated in a brainstorm.

Ego

Some personalities are bigger than others, and that can really get in the way of a full and free creative flow of thoughts and ideas amongst a group. When ego makes an entrance in the brainstorming session, it can smother all creative activity in the room. Dominating and domineering personalities have no place in a brainstorming session. Unfortunately, in most group settings, some personalities in the room will tend to take over at the expense of other, shier personalities that may have altogether newer, better, and at the very least different ideas.

Leadership Lacking

Also unfortunately, a group brainstorming session is only as good as its leader. Brainstorming is an active mental and creative process and in order to effectively facilitate a brainstorming session, the leader must be able to stimulate the minds of the participants and evoke proactive mental and creative activity. It’s worth taking the time and consideration to select the right leaders for your brainstorming sessions, and to get in the practice of training leaders - both beginning and advanced - to facilitate brainstorming sessions effectively.

By knowing the factors that can cause a brainstorming session to fizzle out into nothing, you are empowered to start conducting brainstorming sessions that can grow and expand and flower into brilliant possibilities for success.

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SolveYourProblem.com : 2008

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