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Brainstorming is out. Brainwriting is in.

July 4, 2016

Oh Hiya, Meg here!

Every company needs to meet the challenge of keeping up with ever-changing consumer interests. While meetings and brainstorming sessions can prove stressful, brainwriting or silent brainstorming may be just what your company needs to stay relevant. In order to create a positive and effective brainwriting session, you need the appropriate materials, so I’ve put together a few of my favorite supplies and techniques to get you started.

Sure, brainstorming can be a great opportunity to find new ideas for a project or company but at times I find it’s a good idea to work on my own before a big meeting. Sometimes it’s best to write and let the ideas flow, rather than waiting for someone to shout a thought out during a brainstorming session. I can find the pressure to blurt out an idea makes me want to speak out a little less, which is really saying something for me!

I’m a real advocate of brainwriting. It gives me the freedom to think creatively about the issue or task at hand without the pressure to get it all out during a meeting. That being said, it is important to set aside some specific time in your schedule to focus on brainwriting. It’s still a vital part of your day to day, even if it doesn’t require a full team meeting. I have a few tried and true ideas for keeping my brainwriting ideas separate from my regular work and notes.

I love keeping a set of giant sticky notes at my desk to jot down ideas. They’re so different from my smaller notes and notepads that they never get lost in the shuffle of desk papers. I can also stick them on a notepad to take to a team meeting to share, without worrying about sorting through a stack of papers to find my notes. These giant sticky notes are worry free and easy to keep track of when it comes time to present a big idea.

When it comes to brainwriting, it’s hard to tell when inspiration will strike! Sometimes when I’m working on a different project, I’ll get a sudden thought and need to jot it down. I keep a whiteboard on my desk, just for those times. It’s so helpful to be able to quickly write down the beginnings of an idea, then return to my current project. I’m able to focus on the task at hand without worrying about my inspired idea passing by.

Brainstorming may be a tried and true office tradition, but I say it doesn’t hurt to change things up a bit! Brainwriting is a great way to challenge your team members to bring some unique creativity to the table, and that’s always a great thing. If you’re looking for more ideas on brainwriting and the positive effects it can have on your team, I recommend this article from fast company.

Until next time,

Meg

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