Brainstorming Techniques

Solicit quality ideas.
- Rule: Encourage the generation of lots of creative ideas.
Encourage everyone to participate.
- Rule: Quantity is wanted - every idea is accepted and recorded. The more ideas, the more to choose from and the more likely ideas will spark new ideas.
Encourage freewheeling and expression of different ideas.
- Rule: "Freewheeling" is welcomed. Freewheeling means the wilder the idea, the better. It is always easier to tame an idea than to make one more exciting.
Do not criticize or evaluate ideas.
- Rule: Criticism is ruled out. Suspend judgment. Every idea is welcome without critique or ridicule.
Build upon other group members' ideas.
- Rule: Combination and improvement are sought. Ideas spark more ideas. Encourage everyone to participate and to build upon the ideas of others in the group.
Record ideas accurately during the session.
- Rule: Record the ideas. It is crucial to record the ideas generated during a brainstorming session.