Tricks for Better Brainstorming with Your Team
Whether you are meeting in person or remotely, learn how to generate more quality ideas for your next project
July 8, 2022
We’ve all been in that meeting where everyone is talking over each other and nothing is getting done. Then there is the room so quiet you can hear the clock ticking away the seconds as everyone shrugs in silence. Brainstorming can be a powerful tool as part of the work management process, but its success depends on proper planning and organization with participants. Check out these tips to help improve brainstorming for your next project.
Prepare in Advance
Whether your team is meeting in person or on a remote video call, their time is valuable and should be respected. Make sure that everyone who is participating in your brainstorming session is prepared to hit the ground running by providing them with an agenda and any resources they may need far enough in advance that they have time to review them.
One option for sharing this information is to post it to a chat channel as an announcement. This clearly differentiates the post in style by giving it a white background and red check mark in the top corner. Plus, by posting in a channel, you give people the option to ask questions in a comment if they need more clarification. Another option is to put an agenda into a shared document, which you can then attach to a channel Tab for quick reference or even drag-and-drop into a channel to share.
Consider Asynchronous Options
Even if your team is distributed across multiple time zones, you can still utilize brainstorming for your projects. One of the big advantages of using a Work OS like Swit is the transparency it provides for your communication. Try creating a task card for brainstorming, and assign each person a date and time to contribute their ideas using the Checklist feature. You can even add checklist items related to feedback and final idea selection so that your brainstorming has a clear timeline in place for each phase.
The Ideation feature in our chat channels is another great way to solicit feedback from a group of people who are not assembled in the same physical space or time zone. Every member of the channel will have access to that Ideation section, which means you can target specific groups of people depending on the project. Use the Ideation in a graphic design channel to come up with suggestions for a new cover photo for the company’s social media pages, or use it in a product development channel to refine the instructional text for an upcoming feature. Once you have a clearer picture of the project’s direction, you can convert that Idea into a task card that carries the context with it.
Have a Clear Goal
The best brainstorming sessions happen when everyone involved has a clear understanding of what you hope to achieve. Sometimes the goal is directly related to a task, like generating a list of taglines for an upcoming ad. Or the goal may be more broad, such as identifying key traits to represent the brand personality. Brainstorming goals can also be directly tied to revenue generation, for example creating a new lead management structure for your sales team.
In the same way you might assign someone to take meeting notes, consider designating someone as the focus coordinator of your brainstorming session. This person can ask questions to stimulate conversation, or help steer everyone back toward the objective if they veer off track. Ideally, this would be the same person who either already is or is intended to be the assignee of the task related to this brainstorming.
The More the Merrier
When it comes to brainstorming, quantity is more important than perceived quality. You want the largest pool of ideas to work from in order to pull out the best choice for your project. That’s why it’s important not to run with the first idea that gets suggested — even if you love it. Be open and willing to set it aside and continue workshopping more options, because you can always come back to it later. As the meeting organizer, be prepared to act as a moderator if needed so that the conversations remain balanced and everyone has the opportunity to contribute.
When using channels to brainstorm, one strategy we use here at Swit is to offer prizes for employees who participate. We’ll ask a question in a shared channel, whether that’s an idea for a new video, a company retreat, or even photo submissions to use in promotional materials, and then enter everyone who shares their thoughts into a raffle for a gift card or care package. This helps maximize suggestions for the project and also builds cohesive bonds in our remote-first team.
Want to generate more quality ideas in your team’s brainstorming sessions? Contact us to see how Swit’s Work OS can benefit your workflow.
Natalie Litofsky, Managing Editor
