What’s your go-to method for brainstorming new ideas?

Question

I love to start with mind mapping to visualize ideas around a central theme. Then, I use sticky notes to jot down quick thoughts, moving them around until I find connections. This method keeps my ideas flexible and helps spark creativity!

What’s your favorite way to brainstorm new ideas?

Scar Qin · Accepted Answer

I like to use mind maps and sticky notes to visualize and flexibly organize ideas around a central theme.

Answer

I find mind mapping and free writing very effective for brainstorming new ideas.

Answer

I like to start with a quick solo brainstorming session, jotting down any ideas that come to mind without filtering them. Then I'll organize those raw ideas into mind maps or on a Miro board to visualize connections. Bouncing ideas off team members is key too - sometimes a casual chat leads to unexpected aha moments! Recently I've been experimenting with AI brainstorming tools like ChatGPT to generate additional ideas to riff on. The key is capturing that initial creative spark in whatever way works for you, then iterating and refining.

Answer

One effective way to brainstorm new ideas is through mind mapping. This technique allows you to visually organize thoughts, connecting related concepts and expanding on them. Starting with a central idea, you can branch out into subtopics, encouraging free flow of creativity. Additionally, incorporating group brainstorming sessions can lead to diverse perspectives and spark even more innovative ideas.

Answer

I'm impressed.

Tuija Ait · Answer

I do that sometimes alone too, with my paper and pen, without the table. Just to write, without evaluation is very important, because evaluation kills the ideas before they are blooming.

Tuija Ait · Answer

One of  my favorites that I have also used for several teams to get them to create new ideas: this needs to be done locally, maybe should invent a way to do it virtually.

it goes about like this

0. Define the challenge - what ideas are needed and why?
1. let's remove the tables and sit comfortably 
2. everybody gets a paper and pen (but no table) 
3. during e.g. 5  min, people write all ideas or things that come to their mind to the paper
4. people change papers and write 5 min more, alone, earlier ideas in the paper can be used and developed
5. people get their paper back and write again 5 min.
6. Then we talk together to suggest ideas and develop them
7. Then write again alone to own paer
8. some grouping, and evaluation phase,to search e.g. top 4 or 5 ideas in each group.

What’s your go-to method for brainstorming new ideas?

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