I often get to witness meetings where a group of people are trying to solve a problem. On a good day perhaps two or three options will be generated before one emerges and starts to be refined as ‘the solution’. This is the managerial mindset – moving quickly to a preferred solution – and moving on to the next problem.
Which is why so many managers and their teams find brainstorming hard.
Brainstorming is not about finding a preferred solution. It is about finding as many potential solutions and ideas as possible.
It is about quantity.
Quality and refinement can come later.
It is about generating ideas collectively.
Feeding off each others creativity.
Allowing one persons thinking to fuel another’s.
Having fun.
Perhaps it is what work should be like more of the time?