Generating ideas with brainstorming

Brainstorming is one of the most common methods for producing a large number of ideas quickly. The main rule is to separate idea generation from evaluation. Participants are encouraged to suggest as many ideas as possible, no matter how unusual, while judgment is postponed until later. This approach helps uncover unexpected directions and prevents teams from focusing only on safe or familiar solutions.

To make brainstorming sessions effective, the facilitator should prepare a clear problem statement and set a short time limit to keep energy high. Recording every idea on sticky notes or in a digital tool ensures that nothing is forgotten. Encouraging participants to build on each other’s contributions often leads to stronger results than isolated thinking. Once the session ends, the group can cluster ideas into themes and decide which ones are worth testing further. Structured in this way, brainstorming becomes a fast and inclusive tool for early ideation.