Businesses have ideation sessions to come up with new and innovative ideas. But ideation sessions can be chaotic and unproductive if you don’t have a plan.
This blog post will discuss the four golden rules for ideation sessions. These rules will help you capture brilliant ideas every time!
1: There is no such thing as a Bad Idea
The best ideas sometimes come from the most unexpected places.
That’s why it’s essential to embrace all ideas, no matter how ‘out there’ they may seem, during an ideation session.
This is the time to think outside the box and explore all possibilities, no matter how far-fetched they may seem at first.
Who knows?
The next big idea might just come from the most unlikely source.
So don’t self-censor yourself; let your imagination run wild and see where it takes you.
You never know what you might come up with.
During ideation sessions, it’s essential not to be too judgmental of ideas.
Even if an idea seems terrible, it might lead to a better one.
But, on the other hand, you also have to let your imagination run wild and not be afraid of thinking of strange ideas.
2: Capture everything
During an ideation session, it is vital to capture all of the generated ideas; you can do this by having someone take notes or by recording the session.
Capturing all the ideas ensures that none are forgotten and everyone has a chance to contribute.
Once the session is over, you can evaluate all the ideas to see which ones are the most viable.
3: The Hybrid Brainstorming Session
Brainstorming is a critical part of the creative process.
It allows you to generate a broad range of ideas and find new solutions to problems.
However, brainstorming can also be frustrating if you don’t have the right approach.
One effective way to brainstorm is known as the hybrid brainstorming session.
This method combines individual and group brainstorming; research has shown that it is more effective in generating ideas than doing it alone.
To do a hybrid brainstorming session, start by brainstorming on your own.
Then, share your thoughts with a group and allow them to build upon them.
This approach provides the benefit of solitude, allowing you to think freely without interruption.
But it also provides the benefits of group brainstorming, such as being able to bounce ideas off others and build upon their thoughts.
As a result, the hybrid brainstorming session is an ideal way to generate a large number of ideas.
4: Quantity over Quality
In an ideation session, generating many ideas is more important than having a few high-quality ideas because ideation aims to come up with as many new and innovative ideas as possible.
Once you have a large pool of ideas, you can then go back and select the best ones.
By following these four golden rules, you can ensure that your ideation sessions are productive and successful.
Implement these rules into your next ideation session and see for yourself!
FAQs
What is ideation?
Ideation is the process of generating new ideas. You can do this through individual brainstorming or group brainstorming.
Why is ideation significant?
Ideation is crucial because it allows businesses to generate new and innovative ideas. These ideas can then improve products, services, or processes.
How do I make my ideation sessions more productive?
There are several ways to make ideation sessions more productive.
One way is to follow the four golden ideation rules:
- there is no such thing as a bad idea,
- capture everything,
- hybrid brainstorming session, and
- quantity over quality.
Another way is to hire a professional facilitator.