Tap the Brainpower of the Group:

Brainstorming is one of the most powerful creative thinking
exercises that a group of people can engage in together. Many
companies and groups that have used brainstorming have
achieved successes beyond the imagination of any of the participants.
So can you.

Brainstorming is quite simple. You conduct it with a group
of four to seven people. This seems to be the ideal number for
idea generation.

You then create a clear question that demands practical
answers. Discuss and agree on the question so that everyone is
comfortable with the wording. The simpler the question, the
better will be the quality of the answers.

For example, you could ask, “How can we cut our costs of
operation by 20 percent over the next ninety days?” This question
is clear, precise, specific, measurable, and time-bounded.
It is the kind of question that generates the very best quality
and quantity of answers and ideas.

The key to effective brainstorming is to focus on the quantity
of answers rather than the quality. During the brainstorming
session, you encourage everyone to contribute as many
answers as possible to the question. Have one person record
all the ideas for evaluation and review at a later time.

No ridicule, criticism, or comment is allowed on any idea
unless it is positive and encouraging. The fastest way to cut off
the flow of ideas is for someone to criticize something that
someone else has said.

Remain Flexible at All Times :

your job is to make sure that the environment is positive,
optimistic, and cheerful. The more ridiculous ideas and laughter,
the more successful the brainstorming session will be, and
the better the resulting ideas will be. The goal is to get as
many ideas as possible and not worry about whether or not
some of them sound silly.