Are you finding yourself in a brainstorming funk? Everybody has their own brainstorm style and when you consistently revert to the same styles, it can limit your diversity of thought. To combat this problem, try taking on a new role in your next session.
The Flag Bearer
This person is often the owner of the challenge, making this a difficult role to take on as a participant. The Flag Bearer can clearly define the problem and take others on a journey to solve it, painting a picture of where the problem has come from and the grand potential of where a solution may lead. The Flag Bearer inspires others to take action, bringing the most value through passion, not necessarily for the contribution of ideas.
The Thinker
This person may be the quiet one in the room. The Thinker’s problem solving process starts with mulling over the problem, researching it, reflecting on it, and exploring different perspectives. Brainstorms are used to take in new information, but the Thinker’s best ideation is often done independently. The Thinker can easily support an idea with a well-thought-out rationale. You can embrace this role by leveraging the background information provided when you apply to a session.
The Inventor
This person can think on their feet. They thrives when the pressure is high and timelines are tight. In the brainstorm room, the Inventor is often the one vibrating with ideas that they cannot wait to unleash on the world. The Inventor isn’t afraid to push for big ideas or multiple concepts, but they don’t always invest the time to fully understand the finer details surrounding the challenge. Taking on this role doesn’t mean arriving ill-prepared to your session, but rather embracing the the big question: What if?
The Producer
This person is the marathon runner of concept or product development with the stamina to shepherd a project through every phase. In the brainstorm room, the Producer gets the group to build on promising, actionable ideas. When the dust settles, they continues to test out the chosen idea and explore different applications. When it’s time to execute and others may have grown bored with the project, the Producer still has the passion energy to bring the idea to life. This is another difficult role to take on as a one-time brainstorm participant, but try to keep the end goal in mind and consider what might keep the momentum going as time goes on.
When trying to mix up your brainstorming style, or if you find a role lacking in a brainstorm, consider taking on a different role.
