Improve Your Brainstorming Skills
By Noam A.
Here are some tips to help you become better at brainstorming.
It's easier to brainstorm earlier in the day because your
energy levels are usually higher. You should also make sure that
you are in a comfortable place with lots of natural light. A
good place is a coffee shop with large windows.Don't sit in a
room with fluorescent lights. These will suck the life out of
you and you'll feel less alive than in a room full of sunlight.
There are a number of implements that you can use for brainstorming
— a white board, pencil and paper or even an audio recorder
— but my favorite tool is a software program called FreeMind,
which allows you to create tree charts from your thoughts. It's
also free and open source. You can download it at freemind.sourceforge.net
A good brainstorming session should last around one hour.
After that, your mind will probably start to slow down. If you
find yourself needing more time, extend the hour, or get some
rest. Let your subconscious do some thinking for you and then
continue the next day.
During a brainstorming session don't discount any ideas, either
of yours or of a coworker. Accept every suggestion, even if it
sounds silly. When you acknowledge everyone's thoughts they'll
be more motivated to think creatively, which in turn, could solve
the goal you are trying to achieve.
Everyone thinks that they can brainstorm. But you can always
improve your skills and effectiveness. The more you practice,
the easier it gets to be creative.
And one last tip — have fun. If you're less formal and
enjoy yourself, you'll have more success at brainstorming.
About the Author
Noam A. is the founder of Tivon www.tivonsoftware.com, a company
which creates software for you to easily track your work hours.
(Note: The link URL is incorrect/non-functioning. If you are
the author, please contact me so I can include a proper link.)
You may also want to visit the page on brainstorming
tools.
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