Techniques for Brainstorming Team Goals

8 hours of circular debate. 90 minutes to strategic clarity. The difference? A technique called "together alone." I've watched leadership teams burn entire days in circular discussions. Smart people. Clear goals. Yet they spin in circles while the clock runs out. The loudest voice wins. The introverts check out. Politics trumps logic. And you leave more confused than when you started. Together alone changes the game completely. Here's how it works: 𝗦𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 (20 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝘂𝘁𝗲𝘀) → Everyone writes their strategic options independently → No talking. No influencing. No groupthink → Each person captures their unfiltered perspective → Ideas emerge from expertise, not volume 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗥𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 (30 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝘂𝘁𝗲𝘀) → Each person presents their top 3 options uninterrupted → 2 minutes per person, no debates allowed → All ideas go on the wall, visible to everyone → Patterns emerge naturally without forcing them 𝗦𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗩𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 (10 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝘂𝘁𝗲𝘀) → Everyone marks their top priorities individually → No lobbying. No politics. No persuasion → The quiet genius has equal weight to the loud executive → True priorities surface, not just popular ones 𝗙𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗰𝘂𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 (30 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝘂𝘁𝗲𝘀) → Only discuss the top-voted items → Build on convergence, not conflict → Questions before opinions → Seek understanding, not agreement Why this beats traditional brainstorming: Traditional sessions reward the confident, not the correct. The person who speaks first anchors everyone's thinking. By minute 90, you're debating personalities, not possibilities. Together alone flips the script. Introverts contribute equally. Ideas compete on merit. Politics can't hijack the process. You discuss what matters, not what's loudest. I learned this while watching a leadership team waste 2 days on endless debates. Zero decisions. Pure frustration. We tried together alone on day 3. 90 minutes later: Three strategic priorities. Full alignment. Clear next steps. The Director’s reaction? Why didn't we start with this? Because most facilitators don't trust silence. They fill space with exercises and frameworks. But silence is where clarity lives. Together protects psychological safety. Alone protects independent thinking. Combined? They unlock your team's collective intelligence. Your next strategy session doesn't need more time. It needs better design. 8 hours of debate or 90 minutes of decision? What would you choose?

40 people walked into a room with 40 different versions of the future in their heads. By the end of the day, they were building one. This month I facilitated a Vision and Growth Planning Summit for Westside Waldorf School. The morning opened with 40 voices. By afternoon, a working group of 20 got into the specifics. The day closed with a two-hour board session where decisions got made. The group got smaller as the work got sharper. By design. What made it work? Here's what I've learned, and what you can steal for your next strategy and planning session. 1. Listen before you enter the room. Stakeholder conversations are where the real agenda gets built. Depending on the project, that might mean a few weeks of conversations or several months. Talk to the decision-makers and the people closest to the work. 2. Co-design the session with the key leaders. Collaborate on the structure, the flow, the goals. It takes more time and iteration, it's almost always more effective. When leaders help shape the day, they show up as champions, not just participants. 3. Invite people to state their intention. There's science behind this. Set the context first: the vision, the stakes, what this day is for. Invite each person to share their intention. It shifts the room from a group of individuals into a community with shared purpose. Every time. 4. Name the common ground before you explore the differences. Surface the shared goals first. Name them. Let the group refine them. When people know what they agree on, they can disagree productively on everything else. 5. Create a home for every idea, issue, offer, and ask. Designate space on the wall for the key themes. Direct people to write and post. The quiet thinkers and the big talkers contribute in roughly equal measure. Nothing gets lost. The room stays on track. 6. Don't leave without next steps. A beautiful conversation that ends without clarity is a missed opportunity. Use dot voting, round-robins, or ranked choices. Build the action plan together, in the room, before anyone leaves. 7. Communicate out, or the good ideas die. Two things need to happen. First, a warm message back to all participants capturing the highlights. This isn't just documentation. It's fuel. It keeps momentum alive. Second, a full report to key leaders: the specific ideas generated, the priorities surfaced, the action steps, the 90-day plan. Together, they help turn a great day into a lasting shift. I'm so fortunate to get to work with committed, intentional, inspired leaders like Evan Horowitz and Anjum Mir. Strategy and planning sessions are one of the highest-leverage investments a leader can make. Done well, they don't just create a roadmap. They create belief in the vision, in each other, in what's possible. If you're preparing for a planning retreat, a leadership summit, or an organizational pivot and want to think through your approach, let's connect. #StrategicPlanning #Leadership #OrganizationalTransformation

🧠 “How We Brainstorm And Choose UX Ideas” (+ Miro template) (https://lnkd.in/eN32hH2x), a practical guide by Booking.com on how to run a rapid UX ideation session with silent brainstorming and “How Might We” (HMW) statements — by clustering data points into themes, reframing each theme and then prioritizing impactful ideas. Shared by Evan Karageorgos, Tori Holmes, Alexandre Benitah. 👏🏼👏🏽👏🏾 Booking.com UX Ideation Template (Miro) https://lnkd.in/eipdgPuC (password: bookingcom) 🚫 Ideas shouldn’t come from assumptions but UX research. ✅ Study past research and conduct a new study if needed. ✅ Cluster data in user needs, business goals, competitive insights. ✅ Best ideas emerge at the intersections of these 3 pillars. ✅ Cluster all data points into themes, prioritize with colors. ✅ Reframe each theme as a “How Might We” (HMW) statement. ✅ Start with the problems (or insights) you’ve uncovered. ✅ Focus on the desired outcomes, rather than symptoms. ✅ Collect and group ideas by relevance for every theme. ✅ Prioritize and visualize ideas with visuals and storytelling. Many brainstorming sessions are an avalanche of unstructured ideas, based on hunches and assumptions. Just like in design work we need constraints to be intentional in our decisions, we need at least some structure to mold realistic and viable ideas. I absolutely love the idea of frame the perspective through the lens of ideation clusters: user needs, business problems and insights. Reframing emerging themes as “How-Might-We”-statements is a neat way to help teams focus on a specific problem at hand and a desired outcome. A simple but very helpful approach — without too much rigidity but just enough structure to generate, prioritize and eventually visualize effective ideas with the entire team. Invite non-designers in the sessions as well, and I wouldn’t be surprised how much value a 2h session might deliver. Useful resources: The Rules of Productive Brainstorming, by Slava Shestopalov https://lnkd.in/eyYZjAz3 On “How Might We” Questions, by Maria Rosala, NN/g https://lnkd.in/ejDnmsRr Ideation for Everyday Design Challenges, by Aurora Harley, NN/g https://lnkd.in/emGtnMyy Brainstorming Exercises for Introverts, by Allison Press https://lnkd.in/eta6YsFJ How To Run Successful Product Design Workshops, by Gustavs Cirulis, Cindy Chang https://lnkd.in/eMtX-xwD Useful Miro Templates For UX Designers, by yours truly https://lnkd.in/eQVxM_Nq #ux #design

Navigating power imbalances and fostering psychological safety in brainstorming sessions can be a challenge for facilitators. I recall a CEO of a law firm who was hesitant to run strategy workshops due to past experiences where the Chairman's voice dominated the room, making it difficult for other partners to share their perspectives freely. I assured them that as a facilitator, my role was to ensure that everyone's voice was respected, heard, and valued. I'm happy to say it worked well. 😊 Creating a psychologically safe space is crucial. This can be achieved by setting clear expectations at the start of the session, encouraging respectful dialogue, and managing the room to bring in all voices in a way that works. Here are some ways I run an idea generation or brainstorming session. ⭐ Start by clarifying what challenge or problem we’re here to address. Do this by reframing it as a 'How Might We…’ statement - a common method used in design thinking. This approach encourages collaborative thinking and ensures everyone in the room can contribute their perspectives. ⭐ Another design thinking tool I use is Crazy 8s, a great way to generate ideas quickly (handy when workshop time is tight). It involves generating eight ideas in eight minutes, which pushes participants to think beyond their initial ideas and stretch their creative boundaries. - Give each person a blank A4 sheet. Fold it in half 3 times so you have 8 equally spaced squares. - Each person silently writes or draws one idea per square per minute. - Go around the room so each person shares their ideas. Each idea has its moment. No judgement. Most senior persons share last. - Pop them up on a wall. - Each person then selects their top 2 to 3 ideas. - Discuss the ideas and collectively build on them (encourage the use of ‘and’ and ban ‘but’). - Collectively select the ideas you want to action. ⭐ But what about those quieter voices in the room? Silent Brainstorming is a way to encourage those who prefer to work independently to have their ideas heard. - It starts with individual ideation, where everyone writes their ideas independently before the session. - These ideas are then shared in an in person or virtual session and built upon collectively in a non-judgmental environment. These are just a few methods to address power imbalances and foster psychological safety in idea generation sessions. I'm curious, what other methods do you use to ensure that all voices, not just the loudest, are heard and valued in your brainstorming sessions? Thanks to Adam Grant for sharing the Work Chronicles cartoon below. ——————————————————————————- 👉 If you're looking for an experienced facilitator for your upcoming sessions or workshops, whether defining a strategy, mapping a plan, or crafting your purpose and values, I can help. #facilitation #psychologicalsafety #creativity #inclusion

Ensure all voices are heard by leaning into CURIOSITY! Designing inclusive working sessions can start by inviting questions from EVERYONE- for example, the technique below honors introverted voices and fosters diverse perspectives. Try out some of these practical techniques below in your next meeting or collaboration session… Quiet Reflection Time:  ↳ Create an environment where everyone feels comfortable sharing their thoughts. Structured Brainstorming Sessions:  ↳ Ensure each participant has designated speaking time to reduce pressure. Rotating Facilitators:  ↳ Vary leadership styles and ensure diverse voices are heard throughout discussions. One-on-One Discussions or Smaller Group Settings:  ↳ Provide intimate settings where introverts can freely express their ideas. Techniques like this create an environment where everyone feels comfortable sharing their thoughts. This approach isn't just about diversity. It's about harnessing the power of all perspectives. Together, we can foster environments where every voice contributes to success. Let's ensure that every team member feels empowered to bring their best to the table.

Is your team stuck in the “Insanity Loop”? Doing the same things, in the same way, and expecting different results. It’s more common than you think - even in high-performing teams. Here are 3 subtle signs the loop might be at play: 1. Everyone’s busy, but progress is patchy There’s constant movement, but not meaningful momentum. Activity doesn’t always equal advancement. 2. The same problems keep resurfacing You’ve had the meeting. You’ve agreed on the actions. But somehow, here it is again - the same issue, slightly repackaged. 3. Training has happened, but transformation hasn’t People know what to do, but behaviour hasn’t shifted. New ways of working are not happening. A favourite Go M.A.D. technique that leaders and teams can use to break out of the insanity loop is The 20 Answer Technique. It’s one of the fastest ways to unlock new thinking, fresh ideas, and a clear path forward. Here’s how it works… Turn a problem into a possibility-based question - then answer it 20 different ways. Do this in 4 simple steps: 1.  Write down the problem as a statement e.g. “We’re not hitting our targets.” 2.  Reframe it into a solution-focused question. Start with: “What could I possibly…?” “How could I possibly…?” “Who could I possibly…?” Or, for a team, “How could we possibly improve our performance this month?” 3. Write 20 different answers – fast Do this in one go, without judging or analysing responses. Quantity matters more than quality at this stage. 4. Review your answers Highlight next steps. Often, one or two golden ideas will jump out. Here’s a bonus tip: Use this before or during meetings – turn agenda items into questions and ask attendees to submit or bring 20 answers. Apply this anytime a problem persists for longer than 48 hours – redefine it as a question and list 20 possibilities as quickly as you can. What breakthrough have you had using solution-focused questions? Let me know. #Leadership #ThinkingDifferently #TeamPerformance #ProblemSolving #SolutionFocused #OrganisationalEffectiveness

Not all growth tactics will work for you. Here’s a way you can brainstorm ones that will. I had a great time working with Auriga Martin and the team at Farm Focus Limited on narrowing down ways they can grow next year using customer acquisition. One of the workshop techniques we used can be applied to any growth objective (not just acquisition) so thought I’d share with you. Here's what you do: 1️⃣ Get clear on your ideal customer: > What daily tasks are our customers conquering? > How do we address their essential needs? > What solutions are they currently using? > Where do these solutions fall short? 2️⃣ Understand market dynamics > Who you up against? > What shifts can you see happening? > What new trends/tech could change the way you do business? 3️⃣ Identifying opportunities: > Highlight 3-4 key issues to tackle. > Develop "How Might We" statements to use for brainstorming 4️⃣ Map out growth tactics Compile a list of tactics. Here is a list we used for some B2B acquisition tactics: > SEO > Social Media > Lead Magnets > Email Marketing > Partnerships > Referrals > Direct > Paid Ads > Product Led Growth Create a matrix where you have "How Might We" statements in one column, and all the growth tactics in a row above it (check out the pic for reference). Get people to come up with ideas for each "How Might We" and tactic (some of these won't be relevant, but a good chance to think laterally and get creative). 5️⃣ Synthesise the ideas > Group similar ideas and refine so it's less of a mess and there are fewer ideas. 6️⃣ Prioritise ideas that will have most impact There is a bunch of approaches you can use here, but for simplicity, an easy one to use is assess each tactic based on the how significantly it can move the needle on your objective (value) vs. the effort it will take to stand it up (effort). > High value and low effort - these are your quick wins and prioritise them first > High value and high effort - spend some time validating assumptions to work out if they're worth the investment Anyone else got some techniques they'd add? #growth #growthstrategy #productstrategy #corporateinnovation

💎 Navigating through diverse voices in meetings often forces us to make a decision: listen to the loudest or uncover the hidden gems? 💎 True, the voices that dominate the room are hard to miss, and they often have valuable insights. But what about the quieter team members, the deep thinkers? Their input can offer a fresh perspective, a solution that may otherwise be muted beneath the collective noise. It's not about dismissing the extroverts or blindly valuing the introverts. It's about levelling the playing field to ensure the winning idea genuinely rainbow dances above the rest. How can we accomplish this? 1️⃣ FOCUS: Clearly define the decision at hand & its significance, at least a day before the meeting. 2️⃣ PREPARATION: Reiterate the need for everyone's Point of View—supported by data. 3️⃣ WRITE-STORM: Encourage all to write down insights before sharing, allowing thoughts to organically bloom. 4️⃣ RULES: Establish protocols promoting speaking up, attentive listening, balanced participation, and unanimous backing of the decision. 5️⃣ FACILITATION: Actively draw out the quieter minds; their insights could be the eureka moment you're looking for. 6️⃣ VALIDATION: Maintain dialogue discipline, ensuring every perspective is validated before the next one steps in. 7️⃣ ROTATION: Instil round-robin speaker rotation—everyone speaks once before anyone speaks twice. 8️⃣ COLLABORATION: Divide and conquer – have smaller groups resolving issues independently & then sharing their approach. 9️⃣ DEBATE: As a stimulating exercise, have team members argue against their own Point of View. Are you listening for the quiet voices? Inspiration: Greg McKeown

One of my favorite tricks when goal-setting is to have side-by-side comparisons of actuals and efficiency bets to spark trade-off conversations. → This exercise allows the team to prioritize work and challenge current performance → Generate insightful conversations + brainstorming within groups → Prioritize modeling realistic yet challenging goals – many companies model to improve every data point (which is often unrealistic) &  don’t factor in ramp time to improve the metrics 𝗘𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆 𝗯𝗲𝘁𝘀: The metrics you're betting on improving based on focused efforts over time. Example inputs are highlighted in green below. When creating and roadmapping goals in a documented format, I make two sections to compare side-by-side actuals (based on current performance) and then the efficiency bets (chosen inputs to take chances on to improve as a team). Let’s walk through a rough, simple example to illustrate this concept: 1. Inbound revenue goal: Planning to achieve X in new ARR for Q1 2. Work backward within your funnel to obtain various goals (win rate, ACV, avg. deal size, conversion rates, etc.) 3. For the actuals section: Put in these inputs as they have been performing for the last 6 mo.'s. Keep this exercise and the inputs as simple as possible 4. For the efficiency bets section: Decide on only 1-2 inputs you believe you can improve as a team. Pro-tip: ramp these over time for work to impact the improvements. E.g., you could model a ramp to improve the win rate by improving the quality of leads. Or you may improve the demo → deal created conversion rate by improving the sales handoff process (adding a direct sales calendar link in your form is one tactic to help here). 5. Compare the delta between the actuals and efficiency bets and decide on the bets you’ll be taking. Often, the actuals section will cause teams to flag the plan as not doable, especially when you layer in the program spend needed to achieve the goals. However, we know we should constantly be improving our performance. But, many teams try and achieve everything at once and overnight. This creates a lack of focus and sets up failure in reaching the goals. This approach adds a layer of the discipline of intentionally choosing what and how to improve a metric. In this example, choosing the realistic efficiency bets saves the fictional company ~$262k, brings a more efficient ROI (typically benchmark the Ad CAC to 6 months or less), and reduces the number of opps by ~49. A bonus with this exercise is that once you have brainstormed with your team and had conversions on choosing your efficiency bets, you already have the rough outline of work the team needs to prioritize working in. And, of course, it also provides a roadmap to achieve easily understood goals that are much more attainable. (Everyone likes to win ;).) If anyone does something similar to this, I’d love to hear more about your thoughts and experiences!

Warning: Your team may never brainstorm the same way again after this. Master the SCAMPER technique if you want next-level brainstorming. The SCAMPER method is a simple, yet powerful tool for fostering creative thinking within your team. It stands for: ➟ Substitute ➟ Combine ➟ Adapt ➟ Modify ➟ Put to use ➟ Eliminate ➟ Reverse By asking different types of questions about a challenge, you push your team to think beyond the obvious. In my experience, this exercise can turn a stagnant brainstorming session into a high-energy, idea-generating workshop. It helps break through the common barriers that hold innovation back, such as the "𝘸𝘦'𝘷𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘥𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘪𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘢𝘺" mentality. Here’s how SCAMPER works (using a bakery example):  𝗦𝘂𝗯𝘀𝘁𝗶𝘁𝘂𝘁𝗲: ↳ Can we swap out an element for something new? ↳ e.g., Can we change the flavor and shape of the cupcake? 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗯𝗶𝗻𝗲: ↳ What if we merge two ideas? ↳ e.g., Can we combine the cupcake with an appetizer or a drink? 𝗔𝗱𝗮𝗽𝘁: ↳ Can this be adjusted for a different use? ↳ e.g., Can we cross-promote cupcakes with nearby stores for more visibility? 𝗠𝗼𝗱𝗶𝗳𝘆: ↳ What happens if we change the size or shape? ↳ e.g., Can we create extra tall or bite-sized cupcakes to attract different customers?  ↳ 𝗣𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗨𝘀𝗲: ↳ Is there a new way to utilize this? ↳ e.g., Can we make cupcakes that are dog-friendly for visitors of the nearby dog parks? 𝗘𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗲: ↳ What can we remove to simplify the process? ↳ e.g., Can we make healthier cupcakes by removing excess icing or flour? 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗲: ↳ What if we did this backward? ↳ e.g., Can we design cupcakes with the frosting inside instead of on top? Challenge your team to use SCAMPER on their next problem. The results may surprise you! __________ ♻️ Repost to benefit those in your network. 🔔 Follow me, Nadeem, for more content like this.