3 Smart Ways to Brainstorm Better

3 Smart Ways to Brainstorm Better3 Smart Ways to Brainstorm BetterWhen was the last time you brainstormed?Was it over a group assignment in high school? Maybe over a particularly challenging DIY project? Or was it this week, at work?Brainstorming is a tried-and-true way many managers encurage their employees to generate ideas.The goal is to get people in a room with a white board- and snacks, hopefully- and let the fantastic, creative ideas fly.Heres the twist We may have been going about it all wrong.The New Yorkerreports that research consistently proves that traditional brainstorming- the schriftart youve likely been doing yur whole life- is less productive than sending people off to think by themselves. (Although thereisa type of brainstorming researchers recommend- well get to that.)This could be good news when youre privately brainstorming ways to ace your employee review, but it could cause some problems in the office.Namely, you cant just opt out the next time your boss herds you into the conference room. (Plus, you might miss the snacks.)We talked to a brainstorming expert- yes, there is such a thing- to find out why this is, and how you can be a better brainstormer in three easy steps.This Will Make You More CreativeThe New Yorkerwrites that a key principle of most brainstorming is the absence of negative criticism. Thats supposed to encourage people to speak up, since no one wants to volunteer ideas that get shot down.But research shows that its not brainstorming thats ineffective so much as brainstormingwithout any criticism. This is because criticism encourages us to engage more fully with the work of others and to reassess our viewpoints.In an experiment at UC Berkeley, a test brainstorming group encouraged to give negative criticism blew groups without criticism out of the water by generating nearly 20% more ideas.The same professor, Charlan Nemeth, showed in a separate study that people are more creative when exposed to dissenting opinions.There s this Pollyannaish notion that the most important thing to do when working together is stay positive and get along, to not hurt anyones feelings, she tells The New Yorker. Well, thats just wrong. Maybe debate is going to be less pleasant, but it will always be more productive. True creativity requires some trade-offs.3 Tricks to a More Productive BrainstormGerald Solutionman Haman is the founder of four separate innovation and creativity organizations and platzdeckchen the world record for brainstorming by hosting a session with 8,000 people who generated 454,000 ideas for government improvement in Singapore Stadium. In the 20 years since he founded his innovation companySolutionPeople, he has helped clients generate over three million ideas, valued at $2 billion.Clearly, he believes in brainstorming.We asked his advice for how to do it right1. Get ComfortableHaman SaysIve found that if your feet are comfortable, your brain is comfortable. One client actually calculated that people who wore socks generated 13% more ideas that those who did not.When youre comfy, you can devote your full attention to the task at hand.You CanGet appropriately comfortable. You probably cant don sweatpants at work, but you might be able to kick off your shoes under the conference table or wear pants instead of a skirt when you know theres a creative meeting. Pick a spot at the table where you can see the board or screen easily, and bring a sweater in case the room is cold. This principle is doubly true (and even easier to pull off) when youre brainstorming by yourself at home.2. Start AskingHaman SaysDuring the past 20 years, we have helped our clients generate over 3 million ideas by asking over 10,000 questions. We have an entire question bank He built a toolto facilitate innovation, which includes basic but crucial questions such as, What is needed, wanted, or wished? among other images, questions, and ideas that prompt creativity. Unexpected questions lead to unexpected, and p otentially great, ideas.You CanSpeak up. Haman and his team arent the only ones who can ask questions You can achieve a similar effect through asking questions and expressing your (possibly dissenting) opinion. The best ideas come from friction, such as between people in different departments. Speak up, ask questions, express your opinions.Remember Criticism and conversation are key to a productive session. But frame your contributions as improvements rather than refutation This might work even better if weEven outside of the workplace, it can be wise to ask the opinion of someone you trust before acting on an idea you have. By allowing them to ask questions or poke holes in your ideas, you may wind up with a better plan than you started with.3. Dont Give UpHaman SaysInvest more time in brainstorming sessions. I have a model called the M-Curve that shows thatoldideas are generated during the morning of a typical one-day brainstorming session, andnewideas are generated in the afterno on. Near the end of the sessions is when the best new ideas and breakthroughs occur.You CanStretch it out. Sure, your team might only have the conference room for 45 minutes, but you can make your personal brainstorm last much longer. Before your meeting (that morning or the night before, not en route to the room), jot down the ideas you already have. That way, youll be in the right mindset to generate fresh ideas once you hit the table. If youre planning a brainstorm, you might want to break it into two sessions so your group can meet, take a break, and then come back stronger for round two. The same goes for brainstorming at home If the right idea doesnt occur to you right away, revisit the problem later in the day.This article has been republished with permission from our partner,LearnVest. For more financial and life advice thats sound, savvy, and actually fun to read, check out If your profession isone of the most well-rested, were a little jealous. It may seem impossible, but you canstart balancing work and family in 10 easy steps. Mixed signals no more Fend off creepy co-workers withthese four tips.Photo courtesy of Gonzalo lvarez Maran.