- It's easy to forget
that most participants in a brainstorm session
are not there to solve a problem for themselves.
They're there to solve a problem for someone else.
They have their own problems to solve back at their desks.
So when a brainstorm is set up
to end when a viable solution has been generated,
the goal of the session
immediately becomes generating expected ideas
rather than novel ideas
because expected ideas are more irrefutable
and therefore lead to the session ending sooner.
This is no way to structure an effective idea session.
Instead, let your participants know
exactly how long your brainstorm session will last.
While times may vary
depending on any number of circumstances,
a good benchmark is an hour and a 1/2 to two hours.
This allows for both input and output exercises
and provides ample time to build on one another's ideas.
Let your participants proactively know
exactly how long the session will be
when you inform them of their participation.
This will allow them to plan their workloads
and responsibilities accordingly,
and you'll get their full attention during the brainstorm.
Remind them of the session length
at the beginning of the brainstorm and then stick to it.
By valuing their time,
they'll value yours
and give you more of themselves in the brainstorm session.