There’s something beautiful that happens when minds meld. That exciting rush where ideas are flowing and you can’t write things down fast enough to capture it all! The best! But sometimes getting to that point can be like pulling teeth. Surprisingly, you actually need a bit of structure to run an “organic” brainstorming session.

A few things to keep in mind:

• Time is precious. Don’t book the meeting for hours. A sense of urgency can motivate any sluggish brain.
• Too many cooks in the kitchen can make a mess of things. Make sure you keep your guest list small or you can break your large group into smaller groups. A variety of thinkers is needed BUT you don’t need 30 people – try 8. A more intimate group will allow for all voices to be heard. This typically doesn’t happen if you invite the whole fam-damily.
• Don’t forget to stretch! You wouldn’t just jump into your triathlon without warming up would you? Ouch! Brains need a bit of loosening up before the creativity starts flowing. Jarring them won’t get you the best results. Before leaping into the main purpose of the session, start off with a few small exercises with topics that actually don’t directly relate to it. This will get everyone in the right frame of mind (creative!) and comfortable with voicing their opinions and ideas. You won’t regret it!

I love a good brainstorm session, whether I’m running it or just a lucky guest. Collaboration is amazing – don’t crush it, nurture it!