Here are 20 ways to significantly improve your effectiveness in generating new ideas

• 1. Distribute your problem statement the night before so the
• subconscious can work on it
• 2. Free your imagination and have fun
• 3. Brainstorm as individuals before the group session
• 4. If you brainstorm alone, write continuously for another 5 minutes
• after you feel like you've run out of ideas
• 5. Limit the session to between 6-10 people and 30-40 minutes
• 6. Select a diverse range of participants including outsiders teens and
• children
• 7. Choose a relaxed space and create a friendly open atmosphere
• 8. Do a warm up exercise or ice breaker prior to the session
• 9. Most ideas in the first 3/4 of the brainstorm will be regurgitated
• ideas, it's the last quarter ideas that are generally breakthrough
• 10.When you're out of ideas, force yourself to add three more.
• Innovation and creativity can surface after the apparent solutions
• have been exhausted
• 11.Harvest a great number of ideas, extend and combine ideas
• 12.Use brainstorming sessions for more than just generating good
• ideas. Share knowledge, encourage a culture of creativity
• 13.Record all ideas unedited
• 14.Paralyze your judgment, analysis, and other mental blocks
• 15.Focus on quantity, not quality
• 16.Include outrageous and wacky ideas
• 17.Don’t allow discussion during the brainstorming activity. Talking
• about the ideas will take place after brainstorming is complete
• 18.Don’t criticize or judge. Don't even stare, frown, or giggle. All ideas
• are equally valid at this point
• 19.Let one idea give rise to another idea
• 20.Combine ideas as much as possible, but only when the original
• contributors agree