Brainstorming, method: description, technology and reviews

Brainstorming is a method that today enjoys incredible popularity. Using it, you can find alternative ways to solve complex problems. In addition, it allows the individual to reveal his inner potential. This method is used most often in large teams at meetings, when it is required to come to some definite decision.

Brainstorming is a method that implies that all participants in the process will show strong activity. The situation when employees of one enterprise take turns expressing their individual opinion, allows everyone not to stand aside and be heard. In the conditions of modern reality, when the chief often does not have the opportunity to give time to each employee, this method is just a find.

History and description

The method of brainstorming (brainstorming) first appeared in 1930, and it was described much later - in 1953. The author of this concept is American researcher Alex Osborne. At one time, this scientist spoke in defense of free speech and recommended his method primarily for the proper planning of any entrepreneurial activity. Brainstorming is still used by leading businessmen to organize and conduct business. Its usefulness is noted: labor productivity grows, profit increases, new ideas appear as if by themselves.

The essence of the method of brainstorming is the following: in the hall of meetings, leaders and employees gather. A common task is voiced, which must be decided during the meeting. Each of the participants has the opportunity to openly express their point of view, challenge the partner's concept, discuss the results obtained, and construct additional assumptions. From the side, it seems that colleagues intentionally oppose different concepts to each other in order to reach a new understanding of the essence of things.

Direct brainstorming

This is the most common option, allowing you to quickly solve a pressing problem. A direct brainstorming implies that during the process the most important and relevant issues concerning the implementation of certain projects, development of activities, etc., will be discussed. Not many modern leaders guess that it is possible to hold ordinary meetings, planning meetings and various gatherings, Using a creative approach. It is only a little to make a variety in the boring course of professional everyday life, as employees begin to generate eye-popping ideas themselves. The leader can only be surprised at where all this potential was hiding so far. The application of this method makes it possible to improve relationships in an established team, to overcome various psychological barriers and barriers.

Backward brainstorming

Used in the event that a certain concept was for some reason unprofitable, has reached a deadlock, and it is urgently required to develop a new one. It is understood that the participants in the process will actively challenge each other's thoughts. Here disputes are admitted, entering into polemics. The method of reverse brainstorming is useful in the case when the enterprise has insoluble contradictions that require radical intervention.

Employees can express everything they really think, their freedom is not limited to anything. It is hardly possible to find something so effective and effective than the method of reverse brainstorming. The description of the problem, the concentrated attention to the details of several people at once allow us to approach the issue in time and on the best side.

Individual brainstorming

It can be applied in the event that a person urgently needs to reach a specific result, but for some reason he was caught by a professional crisis. Brainstorming is a method that a creative person can use in times of temporary loss of productivity. Its uniqueness lies in the fact that it effectively acts even on one person who is alone with his own thoughts. You can arrange internal dialogues with yourself and come to bold, unexpected decisions. The result of such actions will soon surprise you. All that is required is to allow yourself to think in a limited time frame (say, lasting several minutes), having a specific, clearly formulated task. Unfortunately, many people from the very childhood get used to thinking of common stereotypes. Methods of brainstorming can overcome the stereotyped perception of the world and reach a higher level of worldview.

Technology of conducting

This concept includes three main periods. They should be carried out consistently and with great attention.

1. Formulation of ideas. At this stage, the goal is being formulated, and the necessary information is collected. Participants in the process should be aware of the kind of information they are invited to think about. All voiced ideas, as a rule, are fixed on paper so as not to miss anything important.

2. Formation of a working group. Participants are divided into generators of ideas and experts. The first - people who have a developed creative orientation, imagination. They offer non-standard ways as a solution to the problem. Experts find out the value of each proposed idea, agree with it or not, motivating their choice.

3 . Analysis and selection of proposals. Here the criticism, active discussion of offers is pertinent. Generators of ideas are first expressed, then the floor is given to the experts. Proposals are selected based on logical inference and creativity. Any non-standard approach is welcomed and is therefore viewed with particular interest.

The supervisor should supervise the process, observe the progress of the discussion of the problem. In the event of controversial moments, he necessarily brings clarity, specifies the details, directs the further development of thought.

Additional conditions

Despite the emerging desire of young and promising managers to immediately start using this psychological tool, a competent approach is required here. You can not use it too often, otherwise it will lose the element of novelty and will be perceived by employees as something ordinary and everyday. One of the main conditions for conducting is the suddenness of use. Participants should not specially prepare for the meeting, think through the used moves.

The leader needs to know the general direction of the conversation, but in any case he will not be able to determine in which way the discussion will proceed. The methods of brainstorming are so remarkable that they allow you to openly express your point of view. People may not be attached to the consequences of what has been said.

The method of brainstorming: reviews

Participants in this concept note that with its use, any meetings are more interesting and productive. The method resembles the simultaneous inclusion of several "bulbs", which light up in the minds of different people. Brainstorming allows you to take into account not only the judgments of specialized professionals, but also adjacent areas. In other words, it covers many spectra, it helps to consider the same situation from different angles. In addition, and the relations in the team after the introduction of the method become more open, trusting.

Involvement in the process

Usually at meetings and planning meetings there is a "theater of one actor". Says one boss, and subordinates are forced to listen to long monotonous notations and agree with him. It is incredibly tiring and nervous for the latter. Personality of employees is suppressed, it is squeezed into a close scope of official duties. Sometimes employees for one reason or another prefer not to voice ideas arising in the head, do not seek to express themselves.

As a result, the motivation to work "with a spark" is lost, putting the soul into the process. The method of brainstorming allows you to remove psychological clamps and barriers, makes it possible to reveal the individuality of employees. Being psychologically involved in the process, a person increases his productivity.

Creativity

Agree, this concept can not be called everyday and often used. Most of all, they resort to it when the question requires some kind of ambiguous decision. The method was widely spread in creative collectives, where there is a need to move away from everyday life and plunge into the solution of the creative task. As a rule, a positive result does not take long to wait.

There are a large number of such concepts, which mean a different meaning. This is where the method of brainstorming comes in handy.

Grade 11

Technology implementation of the concept of Alex Osborne can be used to organize classes for graduates. At the senior level, students are often offered tasks that promote the awakening of non-standard ideas. This is a very useful acquisition, since individual personality characteristics are taken into account, the available abilities are developed, the necessary skills are strengthened. The more freedom will be provided for the realization of the thoughts that arise in the head, the more bold the beginnings of young researchers will be. The method provides that students will themselves strive to achieve this goal. The feedback from the participants is especially positive, as adolescents appreciate attentive attitude towards them.

Instead of concluding

Brainstorming is a method that has gained fame relatively recently. More and more managers choose the use of an unconventional approach in solving everyday issues.