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IdeationBeginner

Brainstorm Rules

Establish clear rules for a brainstorming session to enhance creativity and collaboration. These guidelines encourage open idea sharing while preventing negative criticism that stifles creativity.

Duration
1m–5m
Group size
Any people
CCBY-SA 4.0

How to run it

  1. 1

    Gather participants and explain the purpose of applying brainstorm rules.

  2. 2

    Share the guidelines, emphasizing each point clearly.

  3. 3

    Encourage participants to refrain from judging ideas during the session.

  4. 4

    Prompt everyone to contribute their thoughts, regardless of how unconventional they may be.

  5. 5

    Encourage building on others' ideas instead of dismissing them.

  6. 6

    Remind participants to stay focused on the specific topic or problem.

  7. 7

    Wrap up by summarizing the contributions and highlighting any standout ideas.

Tips

  • Create a safe environment where everyone feels comfortable sharing ideas without fear of criticism.

  • Use visual aids to display the rules prominently during the session.

  • Revisit and reinforce the rules if discussions start to drift off-topic.

Variations

Adjust the rules based on group dynamics or specific brainstorming goals as needed.

Where it fits

team brainstormcreative project kickoffproblem-solving workshopproduct ideation session

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Method descriptions on Workshop Weaver are original content written by our team, based on established facilitation practices. This method was inspired by work from SessionLab. Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Brainstorm Rules — Facilitation Method | Workshop Weaver