Brainstorming is a group decision-making technique designed to generate a large number of ideas through interaction among team members. Rather than the popcorn method of randomly calling out ideas, we recommend a round robin technique—to even out participation.

How to Conduct a Brainstorming Session:

1. Clarify the brainstorming objective.
2. Call out ideas in round robin around the group.
3. Record each idea on a flipchart.
4. Build on and expand the ideas of others.
5. Pass when an idea does not come quickly to mind.
6. To generate as long a list as possible, resist stopping when ideas slow down.
7. After all ideas are listed, clarify each idea and eliminate exact duplicates.

REFERENCE: The Seven-Step Meeting Process and Tools from Executive Learning, Inc. Handbook for Improvement, Nashville: ELI, 2002.

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