“Brainstorming” is the most exciting part when you work in a creative company. Talents share and exchange their crazy ideas, and finally, come up with the best result. We will share the skills of getting creative ideas, shared by creative veteran and current chair of Interactive Digital Arts at University of the Arts London, Fred Deakin. We have summarized seven methods that allow you to brainstorm like a professional.
01. Keep an open mind
The enormous challenge of brainstorming in a group is to keep a collective open mind. We sometimes self-censor our ideas for fear of looking stupid in front of others. Stop doubting others’ ideas (temporarily, at least) is important to foster enough creative energy to hit on some really interesting ideas.
02. Brainstorm as much as you can, rather than as good as you can
In the early stages, it’s crucial not to worry about the quality of ideas but rather go for volume.
03. Don’t pass judgment directly
This action can be fatal to creative energy. Building on ideas, but not breaking them down, no matter how daft they are, can be a powerful way to work up that collective creative magic.
04. Start with ‘Yes! And…’
‘Yes! And’ can help your group overcome this challenge and get the juices flowing. In your team, choose 1 person to start by announcing an idea for something fun to do as a group – ‘Let’s go to the park’ could be an example… Then, move around the group in a circle with each team member building on the plan by following with ‘Yes! And…” followed by an extension to the idea – ‘let’s have a picnic in the part’ for example. Continue around and round the group for 2 minutes until the initial plan has changed into something weird and wonderful
05. Put practice into action
We can get into the best mindset for brainstorming by forcing ourselves to respond positively to an idea and then build on it. Try to use this exercise as a warmup before you begin a meeting, your teamwork should achieve synergy effects! You’ll be amazed at how many ideas you can come up with.
06. Put on Edward de Bono’s Thinking Hat
When you’ve been through your nonjudgmental brainstorming, it comes to develop the ideas and start balancing positivity with your other views and feelings.
“Six Thinking Hats” is a technique developed by famous psychologist Edward de Bono. It is a good way to analyze and build on the ideas further. The skills help the team take each idea in turn and collectively explore it with 4 different mindsets, represented by a different color ‘hat’.
Beginners can simplify by sticking to just 4 instead of 6.
07. Start with the merits of the idea
First, put on your ‘yellow hats’ which stand for optimism, and discuss the merits of the idea. Then, change to the ‘black hat’ and discuss the possible challenges of the idea.Third, take up the ‘red hat’ to share your emotions, feelings about the idea without explanation. At last, start visualizing the possibilities by donning the ‘green hat’ – feel free to think big and laterally here, taking inspiration from the original idea.Repeat this process and finally, you should be able to make some decisions about which ideas are worth pursuing further.
What is “Six Thinking Hats”?
Six Thinking Hats is a system designed by Edward de Bono. It describes a tool for group discussion and individual thinking with six colored hats. “Six Thinking Hats” and the associated idea of parallel thinking help groups to plan thinking processes in a detailed and cohesive way, by thinking together it can enhance the effectiveness.Team members can learn how to separate thinking into six clear functions and roles. Each thinking role is identified with a colored symbolic “thinking hat.” By mentally wearing and switching “hats,” you can easily focus or redirect thoughts, the conversation, or the meeting.
Significant Applications for the Parallel Thinking Process of Six Thinking Hats
Leadership Development
Team Productivity, Alignment, and Communication
Creative and innovative thinking
Meeting leadership and decision making
Product and Process Improvement, and Project Management
Critical, Analytical Thinking and Problem-Solving
Organizational Change/Performance
Wherever High-Performance Thinking and Action is needed