Brainstorming Rules and Techniques

Key brainstorming rules: provide supporting materials in advance so participants can think independently, assign a facilitator to solicit feedback and maintain focus, use timers to keep discussions equitable and on track, and accept all ideas without criticism (“no bad ideas” rule). Effective techniques include round robin discussion, mind mapping to explore connections, and free association to uncover overlooked solutions.

Brainstorming sessions are critical for coming up with new ideas, but what ground rules are best when using tools like a free whiteboard app? Find out what rules to put in place for successful brainstorming and techniques for using online whiteboards.|

Provide Supporting Materials in Advance

Brainstorms are supposed to generate out of the box thinking and new ideas. Yet some team leaders think this means putting everyone around an online brainstorming board and allowing them to generate ideas with no prior exposure to the topic at hand, in an effort to get fresh thoughts.

It’s actually better for the brainstorm if attendees receive documentation and supporting materials in advance, so they can review the matter and think independently about the problem and potential solutions. Providing materials in advance allows for people’s subconscious to think about the problem, which ultimately leads to better solutions.

So that team members can review supporting materials whenever necessary, look for online whiteboards that offer a documents library, where you can post any supporting materials necessary to the success of the brainstorm.

Assign a Facilitator

Facilitators help brainstorms run better by soliciting feedback from quieter participants, who may be shy about voicing their point of view. Facilitators practice active listening and reflect what they’ve heard back to the group to maintain focus and build consensus. Effective facilitators keep people on track, so the group stays focused, and also enforce civility if it becomes necessary.

Features such as polling allow facilitators to take the temperature of the group around ideas or suggestions, which can help build consensus and clarify points of difference. Chat features are also helpful, as they provide a group and one-to-one messaging option where facilitators can communicate with team members.

Use a Timer

Timers are an essential part of brainstorming for many reasons. One, they provide a time tracker, so the brainstorm does not last longer than intended. Two, they give facilitators a simple way to keep discussion equitable by, for instance, giving every issue the same amount of time to be discussed. Three, timers keep subtle pressure on, which helps the group stay focused on the topic at hand (since time will run out to convey ideas).

Accept Everything

People are less likely to voice their ideas if they are worried about criticism, so facilitators often set a ground rule of accepting every idea, regardless of its merits. This is sometimes presented as “there are no bad ideas” or “there are no stupid ideas.” Regardless of how the rule is phrased, this ground rule gives attendees the freedom they need to think through the challenge and suggest creative ideas without worry about how their ideas will be perceived.

Brainstorming Techniques

Round Robin

With a few ground rules in place, what are some ways to brainstorm? Effective facilitators should have a few techniques in their back pockets to break the group out of a rut if people are stalled for ideas. Here are a few techniques to know for your next online brainstorming board.

Mind Mapping

Mind mapping is a classic brainstorming tool where members connect related information around a diagram. Mind mapping tools are useful when the group needs to dive deeper, for instance when there’s a need to better define a problem or explore the impact of potential solutions. Look for online whiteboards that offer a mind mapping functionality to deploy this strategy during online brainstorming.

Free Association

The free association uses creative thinking to suggest what words or phrases a key concept reminds people of. The results can be surprising and may indicate important yet overlooked aspects of a solution.

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If you are the one running the session, see our guide to teaching your team the ultimate brainstorm.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the most important rules for effective brainstorming?

The key rules are: provide supporting materials in advance so participants can think independently, assign a facilitator to guide discussion and maintain focus, use timers to keep sessions on track, and accept all ideas without criticism. The “no bad ideas” rule gives attendees freedom to suggest creative solutions without fear of judgment.

Why should brainstorming materials be provided in advance?

Providing materials in advance allows participants’ subconscious minds to process the problem before the session, leading to better solutions. It’s actually more effective than surprising attendees with a topic and expecting fresh ideas on the spot.

What role does a facilitator play in brainstorming sessions?

Facilitators solicit feedback from quieter participants, practice active listening, reflect ideas back to the group to build consensus, keep discussions on track, and enforce civility when needed. They can also use polling features to gauge group sentiment and chat features for one-on-one communication.

What are effective brainstorming techniques for teams?

Effective techniques include round robin (structured turns for sharing), mind mapping (connecting related information in diagrams to explore deeper connections), and free association (suggesting words or phrases that concepts remind people of). These methods help break groups out of ruts when ideas stall.