Whether you’re working on a solo project or joining forces with a team, brainstorming can be difficult.
There are many perspectives on the best way to get the creative gears going in your mind, but some can actually be counterproductive. You might be surprised to learn some fun techniques that help you tap into your creative side and get you thinking outside of the box.
If you’re feeling stuck and can’t seem to break the mental block, we’ve got some brainstorming tips for you to try
Keep reading to learn eight awesome tips to get you feeling inspired and creative.
1. Get Bad Ideas Out Of The Way
This tip might seem out of place when it comes to creative planning but it is actually a great place to start.
This is also a good technique to break the ice when you’re brainstorming in a group setting. Many people are shy about introducing their ideas so as an ice-breaker, each person can share as many bad ideas as they can. This not only helps the group loosen up but also gets people to start thinking creatively.
2. Have Visuals
They say a picture paints a thousand words and this is especially true when you are trying to bring creative thought to life. Rather than explaining your creative thinking, have a visual so that you can see the starting point of your brainstorming and all of the potential directions.
This is an efficient way to piggyback off of ideas and allow yourself or the group to see the vision come to life.
You can use a whiteboard, chalkboard, or diagramming website to layout your ideas and allow your ideas to flow visually.
3. Try Role Storming
Role storming is like asking yourself “What would Jesus do” but less political and with way more swag.
Think about someone that is a leader in your industry or someone who embodies the characteristics of your project’s vision. If you’re working on a fashion project, think to yourself “What would Rihanna do?”.
You or your group can get yourselves into a headspace to channel what a leader, celebrity, or public figure would do if they were creating ideas.
This works best in a group environment and with people who are more extroverted. It can be really fun and inspiring to watch people get out of their own heads to focus on someone else’s perspective.
4. Start Mind Mapping
Using a mind map is another great visual technique to see your ideas in front of you.
This technique is helpful when you are experiencing the anchoring effect – a brainstorming barrier where you become stuck on one idea rather than allowing yourself to think of other ideas. With mind mapping, you can use the first idea to inspire more ideas.
This is an effective technique whether you’re working alone or in a group environment.
Be sure to get the best mind mapping software for your next big project.
5. Take A Break And Distract Yourself
If you want to know how to brainstorm, you first have to know when it’s time to take a break and walk away. For some, this is difficult during the creative process. But taking a break and coming back with fresh eyes can help you come back to the idea with a new perspective.
Often, creativity is difficult to channel when you’ve given yourself a time limit. Thoughts and ideas generally pop up during your stream of consciousness so don’t be afraid to go for a walk and distract yourself before returning to the project.
6. Change Your Environment
Sitting in an office might not be your ideal setting to inspire creativity and ideas. Whether you’re alone or in a group, try to switch up the setting to get the creative juice flowing.
Studies show that immersing yourself in nature is a powerful way to get inspired. Nature calms the prefrontal cortex to allow you to access other parts of your brain for new ideas.
7. Borrow An Idea
Like many great ideas, most come from another time or place in the world. You take an idea and you think about how to make it better, faster, more efficient, and more user-friendly.
Research the evolution of your product or service and see how you can perfect it or make it better for your target audience.
Even if you are working with a new idea, chances are that there is something similar out there. Find out if your idea has already been brought to life and see how you can personalize it. There are many ways that you can take an existing idea and make it your own.
8. Hold A Contest For Most Ideas
If you’ve got an office with colleagues who enjoy a little healthy competition, holding a contest might be a great way to inspire creativity. The angle of competition might give your team the push that they need to think out of the box.
Break the group up into smaller teams and see who can come up with the most ideas. By doing this, you will likely have a long list of ideas, a few of which might be the ones you’re after.
Get Creative With These Awesome Brainstorming Tips
Getting inspired and coming up with creative ideas can sometimes feel challenging. In order to get the most out of your brainstorming sessions, try mind mapping, holding a contest, changing your environment, borrowing an idea, taking a break, incorporating visuals, getting out the bad ideas, and role storming. These are all unique ways to stir up your creativity and get your ideas flowing.
If you enjoyed this article, keep coming back to our awesome blog for more tips and tricks to help you get creative.
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