If you really want to generate the best idea or solution write first, talk second. When you separate idea generation from discussion you not only generate more ideas, but you will generate more original ideas.

I frequently facilitate team meetings where idea generation is critical to identify a strategy,  solution, decision or new innovation and I use a technique called brainwriting.  

It goes like this:

  1. At the beginning of the meeting everyone is handed a stack of 6 x 8 post it notes (the big ones!) of the same color.

  2. Participants are given 10 minutes to write as many ideas down as possible.  One idea per post-it.  All ideas remain anonymous.

  3. Ideas are collected and grouped on the wall as there are duplicate ideas.

  4. Participants are given dot stickers to vote and help narrow down the ideas to top 3, 5 or 10 depending on the meeting objective.

  5. These ideas are then discussed and vetted until the group reaches a final decision or choice.

What is really exciting about brainwriting is that the “best idea” isn’t usually one that someone came up with at the beginning.  Instead ideas, build on one another often helping new more innovation solutions to emerge.

This process provides better representation of ideas from the whole group, not just the few typical “loud-mouths” that may dominate a meeting.  This is important because of what is known as conformity pressure. In a typical brainstorming session where ideas are verbally shared, early ideas are favored and are less creative than ideas generated using brainwriting.

This process leaves the group energized as it presents a more neutral environment where all ideas can be shared.  My clients love this process and find brainwriting to be an effective and efficient.

There are also many technology solutions that support this type of idea generation virtually like Powernoodle and an app called Candor.

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