Brainstorming for Dummies

As a startup, brainstorming is probably a technique you’re intimately familiar with. The crew assembles, you present the problem, and everyone chips in to solve it.

Well, you’re doing it wrong.

And, according to Dr. Richard Wiseman, brainstorming is one of the worst things you can do, if you do it wrong.

So how do you brainstorm properly? Define the problem you’re trying to solve or the goal you’re trying to reach. Have each person come up with three ways to solve the problem or meet the goal BEFORE the meeting. Then go ahead and have your “brainstorming” session. This process eliminates everyone else in the room from getting run over by the bigmouth who hogs the conversation.