Fast Company: 10 Rules of Effective Brainstorming

clipped from http://www.fastcompany.com/multimedia/slideshows/content/brainstorming.html?partner=fasttake This is the traffic cop of the session, and should be an outsider. An insider brings baggage that can inhibit the free flow of ideas. HR consulting organizations are one possible resource; if you are working with a design firm like IDEO or Continuum, they may be able to help. If bringing in an outsider is difficult for some reason, the second best option is to bring in someone from a different group inside the company. Facilitators need to be skilled at group dynamics, able to read when the team is flagging or when it is hitting on all cylinders. They have to be patient, yet willing to exercise discipline if one person can't stop talking or is becoming aggressive. It is more a matter of personality than formal training, but it can't hurt to bring in people to watch a well-run brainstorming session to see how it works.

I came across this presentation from a great blog - Alphachimp Studio, Inc. -

Brainstorming is one of those easily used terms that are thrown around the corporate world. Many groups feel that Brainstorming and Creativity is a meeting time, or the realm of the "Creative People". Create-Learning we teach the belief that every meeting and interaction is Brainstorming. Every team member has Creative and innovative ideas.

I especially enjoy slide #6 with the mention of Props. Team Building and creativity programs using props tap into various learning style. Tapping into these learning styles teams can unleash brainstorms and innovate new ideas.

-Michael Cardus serves as an Adventure Consultant for Create-Learning Team Building. Mike facilitates, trains, and speaks to groups in a variety of settings including Fortune 500 Companies, small business, universities and classrooms. Currently he lives in Buffalo NY, he travels to serve your groups needs - where and when your group desires.