Opening stage - divergent

The opening stage of your workshop should first focus on outlining your workshop goals. To do so, you’ll also need to go over all the relevant background information, such as who your users are, what their pain points are, etc., in addition to what you’re seeking to accomplish by the end of the workshop.

Next, refer to the list of questions you want to address in your workshop or the problems you want to brainstorm. Have each participant then individually come up with ideas and jot them down. This process is known as diverging, and it can be highly beneficial to do so before opening the floor for group discussion because:

• It eliminates distractions for participants at the outset and allows them to think better
• It allows participants to work at their own pace
• It prevents groupthink from creeping in
• It allows participants to sit with their ideas and fully form them before subjecting them to the scrutiny of the group