In the United States, there are over 11 million meetings each day. We sit through more than 61 meetings each month. Most agree at least half the time is wasted... That's 31 hours wasted each month. Multiply that by the number of attendees and their salaries and you've got some pretty sad numbers.
Ineffective is unacceptable when about strategy and brainstorming sessions.


Last week I offered suggestions for The Best Brainstorming: Nine Ways To Be A Great Participant. This week's tips are for those who lead brainstorming sessions. (Or any meeting for that matter).
(1) Frame The Problem
Before you send meeting invitations or begin writing an agenda, first make sure you've clearly defined what needs to be solved.
Think of framing like the frame of a picture. It defines what is in the scene and crops out what is not included.
(2) Clearly Define The Meeting Outcome
Let your participants know what we need to have when the meeting has finished. In our example... We will have three viable ideas to put to test for our new, ready to drink, tea-based refreshment beverage. Put this in the pre-meeting agenda. (You do send pre-meeting agendas, don't you?)
(3) Create Bite-Sized Chunks
In the RTD tea example above, you wouldn't simply sit down and try to squeeze out new tea ideas. You'll want to break the meeting into chunks... a series of exercises each with a specific focus. For our tea meeting, a chunk for each: competitor review/sampling, existing tea flavors in the market, what does/does not mix with tea, what makes a beverage "refreshing?" And so on...
(4) Stretch Before You Run
Similar to stretching muscles before a run, you want to get brains warmed up before making new ideas. There are loads of books and online tips for facilitators with suggested activities. If you spend a few minutes pulling together something fun and stimulating - it will pay off with a more engaged group of participants.
If your collection of participants are unfamiliar to each other, include some type of 'get to know you' component in the ice breaker.
Not only will this allow people to "get into the groove" of creative thought, it's a good way to flush minds free from the baggage they had before your meeting. Just like the way sorbet cleanses the palate between meal courses.
(5) Ideas, Not Decisions
It is kitschy to start a brainstorming session with the declaration, "There are no bad ideas in brainstorming."
Hogwash! There are truckloads of bad ideas. The point is, brainstorming is not the time to worry about the quality of an idea, just the quantity. This isn't decision making time. We're not going to allocate resources, time, or spend money now.
Tell the participants not to worry about good or bad. Bad ideas often lead to great ones.
(6) Don't Get Hung Up. Use A "Parking Lot"
If your team gets bogged down with a controversial idea or sidebar conversation, write the issue down on it's own flip chart page - a parking lot - where it is clearly visible... And get back on track.
This keeps the issue "out there" but allows you to stick to your objectives. It also shows you respect the discussion. If people are swirling about a topic, it is obviously important, and probably needs to be figured out. This meeting probably isn't the right time or place.
(Be sure to note this conversation in your re-cap notes as a reminder to help drive resolution).
(7) Filter Before Your Finish
Don't end your brainstorming with flip charts and sticky notes full of ideas. All too often these pages get rolled up and tucked under someone's desk. Poof! Gone forever...
Instead, get closer to a plan and action by selecting ideas that best meet original objectives - your frame.
With clients I'll do a simple ranking and plotting using key filters. "Filters" may include:

• cost,
• speed to market,
• time investment,
• ROI,
• uniqueness of concept,
• remarkability,
• brand appropriateness, etc.

Have the group pick a some of the "best" ideas... Perhaps 5 or 10 that really pop out. Then rank them using two or more of these filters. Perhaps the best ideas are those that are filtered with "inexpensive to implement" and "don't require new training." Plot these on an X-Y grid.
Now the entire team can leave with ALL the ideas of the day, but also the two or three that may end up as THE big idea. A better sense of accomplishment is had by all
(8) Read Your Audience
Sessions rarely (if ever) follow the strict agenda you may outline. People may work much faster or slower through a particular "chunk" or exercise.
Leading a brainstorm session is like delivering stand-up comedy... You may have 45-minutes of material prepared... however - if the audience isn't receptive or responding - you need to jump to some other material or try a different approach.
Check in on a regular basis to make sure they're still with you, get where they're going, understand the assignment, or perhaps simply need a pee break!
(9) Follow-Up
After the meeting, thank your participants. Send individual emails or hand-written Thank You notes. Let them know you appreciate them loaning their brain to you. Sincere appreciation is always well received.
Also, let the team know what you plan to do next... and... why not let them know the outcome once ideas are or are not put into place.
Nothing more satisfying to know you've been part of fixing, changing, improving, or creating something new and successful.
Happy meeting. Any other suggestions or techniques you've found that have helped you in the past?