Reimagining the brainstorm: How nixing flawed ideas sparks brilliance
Office politics and 700-pound corporate gorillas can undermine the creative fluidity of such sessions. Instead, conduct a ‘killstorm,’ winnowing good ideas to a select few. Here’s how.
Over the years, the brainstorm has led to some great things.
It’s fostered ideas that expand businesses, product innovations, even free sandwiches.
However, traditional brainstorms aren’t always effective. Often, the participants spend a few hours in a room scribbling on Post-it notes, only to end up just a fraction of the way closer to a breakthrough idea.
People worry about what others will think of their ideas, especially if more knowledgeable or vocal people are present. Internal politics and hierarchies can make participants feel their ideas aren’t worthy of discussion. If a senior team member monopolizes the conversation, your brainstorm is over before it even begins. There won’t be space for anyone else’s ideas.
To help clients get around these roadblocks, consider the “killstorm.”
Killstorming your way to better ideas
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