Starting every day with a good work plan of what you need to do is important, as it can easily help you schedule your chores based on their importance. In the workplace, it is equally important, if not more, to have a schedule and to have a good plan for the daily tasks and obligations.

However, in the workplace, the daily routine could somewhat kill the inspirational vein that is responsible for your best results. Unfortunately, that routine cannot be completely avoided. There are only ways to make it better.

What is brainstorming?

Brainstorming is one of those ways. For many people brainstorming is more than just a process. It is a form of workplace art that allows them to think and come up with new and exciting ideas. It is a way to see what the future might bring based on their ideas. But most importantly, it is a way to think about the different materials they can bring to the table.  

Before we analyze the process that one can use to integrate brainstorming in the daily work-life, we must first give brainstorming a clearer term. So, what is brainstorming exactly? Brainstorming is a method for generating ideas to solve a problem, which usually involves a group, under the direction of a facilitator. It is usually used during the beginning stages of a project and it provides a quick means for tapping the creativity of a limited number of people for a large number of ideas.

Bringing ideas to the table

As a productive process, brainstorming can indeed have different forms. Some brainstorming sessions are all about tossing around ideas that could potentially be profitable, without restaining or editing them. Another type of brainstorming is the one connected to specific projects. A company has a project running and they need to enhance its results and make it better. This time the brainstorming will be more focused, ideas will need to be measured and discussed thoroughly before they have the potential and being part of the project.

In every case brainstorming can have the most positive results, assuming that the ones doing it, are doing it right. Although it might sound like a natural process that technically it is, there are a few steps that need to be taken to prepare for it.

The brainstorming process

Here are a few easy steps you can take to prepare for an effective brainstorming session:

1. Goals and objectives: Remember that no process can be effective if it does not have at least one clear goal and one objective. If you do not know why you are brainstorming how will you do it effectively?
2. Individual thoughts: Brainstorming might require a group of people to be effective, but it still is a kind of personal process. Before working on ideas as a group, try working on your alone first.
3. The group is important: As mentioned above, brainstorming is a group effort if you want it to be effective. But the question remains. What kind of a group? Make sure that the people you will invite to work with you will be the kind of people you can work with!
4. Expectations: Now some people might not have clear expectations from a brainstorming session. Some on the other hand might. IF you know what you want and what you are looking for be clear about it from the beginning.
5. The environment is important: Imagine having to work inside an old dark room with inspiring around you. Now imagine being somewhere clean with fresh air and just the right colors to get the creative juices flowing. The results will be uncanny.
6. Always choose a team leader: When assembling a group of people to work together, you need to remember that things might get out of hand from time to time. You need to assign a team leader who can have the skills to both inspire and stimulate ideas as well as pull the group together if needed.

Brainstorming brings solutions, it is a process necessary for all companies, and it can have amazing results. Depending on the number of projects you have, you can start with one brainstorming session per month and work your way up.

Developing skills

Through brainstorming, you will be able to develop much-needed skills for all employees and employers alike. These skills include but are not limited to:

1. Communication skills
2. Empathy
3. Emotional intelligence
4. Teamwork skills
5. Leadership skills and more…

The INNOovaSouth project has been specifically created to help enhance workplace innovation by providing dedicated instruments to the SMEs that are aiming at new business models. Brainstorming is one of those instruments and learning how to do it might take time. At the end of the day, all companies can be benefited from some good brainstorming sessions.