Newsletter
December 2021 Newsletter
Small Business Brainstorming Tips and Benefits
Whether you are starting a brand-new business, or your business is exploring new services or initiatives, a brainstorming session is a valuable tool for developing ideas or solving problems that may be occurring in-house. Not only that, “Brainstorming can be used to help a team buy into and implement a plan of action,” says NIU Communications Professor Henningsen.
Before we get into it, what is brainstorming by definition? “Brainstorming is a group discussion designed to produce ideas… or solve problems.” - Oxford Languages
Here are some useful tips and concepts to bolster your next team brainstorming session.
Encourage team involvement
This is an opportunity for team involvement. From customer service to key decision makers, each team member will have opinions on where your business can improve or ways to expand. This is effectively a team building exercise where each employee’s ideas should be valued, heard and considered. It’s important to create a judgement free zone where employees feel comfortable enough to throw their ideas into the ring.
Preparation is key
Ask your team to come to the brainstorming session with base concepts that are on task. Whether you are brainstorming new in-house processes, marketing concepts or a new service you hope to offer your community, give each staff member time to have their own mini brainstorm prior to the meeting. Before the meeting, ask them to filter their ideas down to three ideas maximum. This allows each person to have their chance to convey their ideas in a timely fashion.
There are no wrong ideas
Again, this comes back to the judgement free zone. Sometimes the wildest ideas can evolve into game changing concepts. Invite the wacky, crazy and out-there concepts and work together to find the positives and applicable elements within those ideas. This comes back to the idea of developing an idea before you share it. You can then work together to refine or expand on ideas and write them down.
Stay Focused
For visual effect, a whiteboard is a great tool to keep everyone focused and involved. In terms of keeping everyone on track, add the fun element of a timer. Allow each person to pitch their idea within 30 or 60 seconds. This not only lightens the mood, but it also encourages members to refine their ideas and really think about why their ideas might work before sharing them.
How to Document Your Ideas:
- Share lists via Google Docs
- Use an online whiteboard
- Get creative with mind maps
- Use online software such as www.miro.com for some helpful brainstorming and ideation templates.
For a final tip from an expert, “Groups that focus on both the quantity of ideas and building on the ideas of others significantly increase their cohesiveness,” says NIU Communications Professor David Henningsen. If you are interested in generating new ideas or solving problems within your business, with a fun team-building component, why not kick start 2022 with a brainstorming session for the New Year.