1. Brainstorming and Meetings

2. Agenda
Overview
Brainstorming objectives
Rules
Conducting Productive Meetings
Summarize
Next steps

3. come up with ideas that can at first seem to be a bit crazy.
What is Brainstorming?
Brainstorming combines a relaxed, informal approach to problem-solving with lateral thinking. It asks:
come up with ideas that can at first seem to be a bit crazy.
This approach aims to get people unstuck, by "jolting" them out of their normal ways of thinking.
The idea here is that some of these ideas can be crafted into original, creative solutions to the problem you're trying to solve, while others can spark still more ideas.

4. Ideas should only be evaluated at the end of the brainstorming
continue
During brainstorming sessions there should therefore be no criticism of ideas:
Ideas should only be evaluated at the end of the brainstorming
You are trying to open up possibilities and break down wrong assumptions about the limits of the problem. Judgments and analysis at this stage stunt idea generation.
session – this is the time to explore solutions further using conventional approaches.

5. Brainstorming Objectives
Describe the objective(s) of the exercise
New product or service ideas?
New feature ideas?
Feature/product naming?
Promotion ideas?
New process for doing something?
Define top requirements or restrictions

6. Some Steps Appoint facilitator/recorder
Allow the group a few minutes to record first thoughts silently
Go around one at a time record each idea/phase. “PASS” if nothing comes to mind.
Classify ideas then pick 4-5 top ideas.
Discuss the ideas and come to consensus

7. As facilitator and recorder
Your job as facilitator is to:
encourage everyone to participate,
to dismiss nothing, and
to prevent others from pouring scorn on the wilder suggestions (some of the best ideas are initially the daftest ones - added to which people won't participate if their suggestions are criticized).
With the group, assess, evaluate and analyze the effects and validity of the ideas or the list. Develop and prioritize the ideas into a more finished list or set of actions or options.
Your job as a recorder is to:
record every suggestion on the flip-chart.
At the end of the time limit or when ideas have been exhausted, use different colored pens to categorize, group, connect and link the random ideas
Condense and refine the ideas by making new headings or lists
You can diplomatically combine or include the weaker ideas within other themes to avoid dismissing or rejecting contributions (remember brainstorming is about team building and motivation too - you don't want it to have the reverse effect on some people).

8. Rules
No idea is a bad idea
Be creative
Take risks
No criticism allowed

9. Summarize
Review ideas
Vote on top candidates and consolidate
Check requirements and restrictions
Trim list to top 5-10 ideas

10. Describe what happens next:
Next Steps
Describe what happens next:
Research the ideas generated?
Follow up with larger group?
Generate action items for follow-up:
Start turning ideas into reality

11. Guidelines for Productive Meetings
Use agendas
Have a facilitator
Take meeting minutes
Draft next agenda
List action items
Adhere to the “100-mile rule”

12. Any Questions?