Brainstorming | Habefast
You have probably already heard of brainstorming if you have not already been proposed or have not carried it out. But then how to define this notion and where does this term come from?
What is brainstorming?
Brainstorming is a collective work technique. The goal is to gather collaborators to collectively produce new ideas on a given theme.
The term comes from the English word Brainstorm. It is a technique for creative and collective problem solving. Developed in 1940 by Alex Osborn, it aims to bring out ideas and solutions.
This technique is based on two principles: creativity and suspension of judgment. The application of these principles aims to allow employees to let go and share all their ideas, no matter how far-fetched, in order to obtain a maximum of ideas.
Furthermore, the goal is to bounce ideas off of each other and make them evolve. All this in a neutral and friendly atmosphere. The goal is to put creativity at the heart of the project and to generate new ideas to innovate and bring out solutions.
In what situation is brainstorming useful?
Brainstorming is widely used in the world of work or studies. It is used in innovation processes to accompany the creation or launch of a product, a concept, an advertising campaign…
Also, when launching a project, it can be useful to organize a brainstorming session to gather ideas and original suggestions to undertake the project.
It is led by a facilitator whose role is to involve each participant, to collect the ideas and then to confront them. The facilitator leads the session with a creative management principle, his role being to encourage the emergence of ideas by creating an atmosphere conducive to this.
What are the principles of effective brainstorming?
For the brainstorming session to be effective, it is important to have a small, motivated group so that people are eager to participate and move forward.
Also, it is important to create the right conditions for creativity: to understand the problem or issue so that the participants take ownership of it and can propose original ideas.
The application of the rule of deferred judgment is also very important since it avoids stifling the creativity of the collaborators and allows ideas to coexist without value judgment.
Then comes the critical and constructive thinking, the ideas announced can serve as a breeding ground for other conceptions and ideas that will advance the project or feed the group’s reflection.
However, a selection of ideas may have to be made by confronting them with reality and their relevance to the problem encountered.
Following the brainstorming, it is important to make follow-up and summary sheets in order to explain the idea and its relevance to people who did not attend the meeting.