Brainstorming Techniques

A group member has to have brainstorming training in order to provide ideas that are positive and effective. Members need to know how to expand those ideas to improve them and possibly create more ideas that are new. The trainer provides exercises and techniques that help train a group to become effective at brainstorming. Trainers give the group various brainstorming trianing that get the group warmed up and the creative process to start flowing.

The trainer introduces the brainstorming training ground rules to the group and emphasizes they are to be strictly followed during a brainstorming session. Then each member presents one idea. The trainer uses a flip chart to write down all ideas as they are presented. After every member has presented one idea, the group starts again presenting a second idea. This process continues until the group runs low on ideas. The purpose of the brainstorming training exercise is to get the group accustomed to generating ideas. The trainer is also analyzing how the ideas flow from each member and how fast they can provide ideas.

During brainstorming training, the trainer will use props to keep the session interesting. The trainer may use a ball for the purpose of keeping the group relaxed. As each participant catches the ball, they must quickly give an idea. If they cannot come up with an idea, the members says, "pass" and throws the ball to the next member. This exercise continues until all the members say pass indicating the group has run out of ideas.

Another brainstorming training exercise that is more used by team leaders than trainers is the use of unusual items as props. For example, the team leader places a belt on a table in the center of the room. Each member must come up with an idea for what that belt could be used for such as a headband for a motorcycle rider.

Another brainstorming training exercise is for members to call out an idea as the trainer points to them. The trainer does this in order starting with the member sitting next to the recorder of the ideas and notes. This continues around the group several times until the group runs out of ideas.

A brainstorming training exercise uses word association to create ideas. The trainer will present one word and each group member must come up with a similar word. This trains the group members to think with both sides of their brain.

A brainstorming training exercise for individual brainstorming sessions is to write all thoughts down on paper regardless if they are related to the topic or not. The purpose is to get the creative juices flowing. After a page is filled, the writer will start to see ideas.

Another brainstorming exercise for individuals is to list the topic then make a list of words or keywords that are associated with that topic. The writer continues to write the list until they run out of ideas. This exercise teaches how to increase the flow of ideas when stuck on a topic.