It is generally known that brainstorming is useful for developing new ideas. A brainstorming session follows clear rules that you may not yet be aware of. Whether at school, in the office, in a club or in many other situations, you can use brainstorming to promote creative ideas and explore new ways of solving problems. We will give you tips to make your next brainstorming session a success.
The term brainstorming was first explained by the American Alex F. Osborn. In 1939, the author was looking for creative ways to solve problems and develop ideas. Charles Hutchison Clark, also an author and management theorist, further developed the idea into what we regularly use today. In order for you to know how a brainstorming session runs successfully, you first need to familiarize yourself with the brainstorming definition and the principles of the methodology. That is why we have summarized them briefly.
Brainstorming refers to various methods of brainstorming. All participants in the session are allowed to share their ideas unfiltered and each idea is noted down and collected equally. There is no censorship in brainstorming! After the actual session, the individual ideas are evaluated and sorted.
The aim of the brainstorming session is to collect as many good ideas as possible. As no one makes a judgment during the session, all participants feel free to express their ideas openly.
Basically, there are only a few brainstorming rules. This makes it all the more important that all participants really adhere to these few rules. The four basic rules are
A brainstorming session requires minimal preparation. The person facilitating the session should take some time and have pen and paper or a laptop ready so that all ideas can be noted down. In the session itself, there are a few things that can help to ensure that the brainstorming session is successful.
As the moderator, you do not take part in the brainstorming yourself. You ensure that all ideas are noted down and that the session runs smoothly. This also includes enforcing the rules you have set for the session. The following points are part of your remit as moderator:
As a moderator, you play a key role in the success of the brainstorming session. The following tips will help you to support the participants in the best possible way.
As already mentioned, there are various methods for implementing brainstorming in addition to classic, open brainstorming. We have summarized the most popular ones for you to give you an overview. However, bear in mind that brainstorming sessions often develop their very own dynamic, which leads to the best and most interesting results.
In this method, the brainstorming rules are tightened up. The aim is to find exactly one idea for each letter in the alphabet. This method is useful if the group has come to a massive standstill. However, it runs the risk of suppressing the flow of creativity as the participants fixate too rigidly on the letters. In addition, the participants must first find the best possible idea for a letter before naming it. This can also have an inhibiting effect.
In times when many people are working remotely, electronic brainstorming is particularly suitable in the working environment. The brainstorming process is digitized. Participants can leave their ideas in the form of small posts on a digital platform. The deadline must be set at short notice so that the participants do not think too much about possible ideas. For groups that meet regularly in person anyway, face-to-face interaction is still the better option because it promotes the flow of ideas more strongly.
In brainwriting, the participants write down all their ideas themselves. As the moderator, you set a deadline by which you collect the notes with the ideas. The next step, the evaluation, then takes place jointly and anonymously with all participants. A big advantage of this method is the anonymization. Participants often write down their ideas more freely if they know that they will not be linked to their person later. Unfortunately, this advantage comes at the expense of the shared dynamic because the participants do not hear each other's ideas during the brainstorming session.
Brainwarming works in a similar way to brainwriting. However, instead of writing the ideas on a large piece of paper so that all of a person's ideas are connected, they are written on small post-its. This makes it possible to evaluate individual ideas later and link ideas from different people together. After the brainstorming session, put all the ideas on a large pinboard where the participants can continue working together. Here too, however, there is no interaction during the actual brainstorming session.
The brainwalking method breaks away from the strict framework of brainstorming. Instead, you place posters and notes related to the problem everywhere in the environment, for example in the office. The participants can then write their own ideas on the posters at any time during their working day. This creates a large collection of spontaneous ideas on a topic. It is important to set a time limit here and then sit down together to analyze, evaluate and further develop the ideas and thoughts.
This brainstorming method combines brainstorming with the approach of empathizing with others. To do this, you choose a person as moderator who typically deals with similar problems and whom all participants know. The line manager is usually very suitable here. The question is then: "What would this person do?"
The aim is to look at the problem from a new perspective in order to find new ideas. Figure storming can therefore be ideally integrated into a brainstorming session that has stalled somewhat and needs new impetus. Set a time limit for this. Within the given time, the participants may only provide ideas from the perspective of the selected person. The time limit should not be too long; 10 to 15 minutes is usually sufficient.
This method is based on the brainwriting method described above. All participants use a shared notebook in which they write down their ideas. As the moderator, you decide whether other ideas may be commented on or not. In any case, the notebook is passed on or is displayed in a place that is accessible to everyone in the meantime. The result is a colorful portfolio of ideas that you can continue to work on together. Be sure to keep the notebook, as you are sure to find ideas for future problems and sessions. Unfortunately, this method lacks the spontaneity of classic brainstorming.
In the headstand method, typical brainstorming questions and approaches are turned upside down. Instead of looking for the most promising idea, the participants throw the absolute worst-case scenarios into the room. Rethinking often helps the participants to develop new, creative approaches. It therefore works in a similar way to figure storming and inspires creativity anew.
Classic brainstorming is deliberately kept very open and free so that ideas can flow. Anyone who appreciates brainwriting as a method and prefers a fixed framework for brainstorming will find Method 635 very useful.
In this brainstorming method, exactly 6 participants sit together.
They are each given a sheet of paper and write down three ideas on it. They then pass the sheet on exactly five times in a clockwise direction. In this way, each person has received each sheet once and added their own ideas and thoughts to it. At the end, you collect the sheets and discuss the collected ideas in the group. According to experts, up to 100 ideas can be generated in a very short space of time. It is important to set a time frame for the individual rounds so that the individual participants do not have to wait too long for each other.
Please note: This technique is not about provoking each other or evaluating each other's ideas during the session! Rather, the participants should use exaggerations, inversions, falsifications and ideal cases to sharpen their ideas. In this way, unusual to impossible ideas can be found, from which realistic solutions to the problem can be derived in the second step.
The difficulty here is most likely to be in moving from provocations to realistic approaches. Nevertheless, this method can be helpful when classic brainstorming reaches its limits and new impulses are needed.
Classic brainstorming thrives on the fact that all participants can express their ideas at any time. This keeps the brainstorming process very dynamic. This contrasts with the Round Robin variation. Here, there is a set order in which the participants are allowed to speak. It is important that all participants sit in a circle so that the order is always maintained. Interruptions or skipping individual speakers are not permitted. Similarly, the idea must not be "I can't think of anything". Each person contributes an idea or an approach before the next person is allowed to speak. And only when everyone has expressed an idea does the round start again. This method therefore forces the participants to contribute an idea. Some people find the compulsion very unpleasant, while others find it inspires them to achieve absolute peak performance.
Instead of generating ideas right away, this method encourages participants to come up with as many questions as possible related to the initial problem. These questions are grouped into six classic categories — the “W-questions”:
Starbursting helps explore a problem or challenge from every angle, making it easier to identify which aspects are most relevant for finding a solution. Often, this method leads to a sharper, more focused definition of the core question.
In a second step, a brainstorming session follows to collect ideas that address the refined problem.
Instead of having all participants brainstorm together from the start, this method builds momentum gradually. It begins with a group introduction where you explain the framework and the steps of the method.
Then, all participants leave the room — except for two. These two develop the first ideas together. After a set amount of time, a third person joins and contributes their own ideas. These may be thoughts they prepared while waiting, spontaneous insights, or reactions to what the first two have already shared.
This process continues step by step, with one new participant joining at a time, until everyone is back in the room. Once the full group is assembled, all collected ideas, thoughts, and potential solutions are reviewed, developed further, and analyzed.
Like any approach to problem-solving, brainstorming has its pros and cons — which we’ll explore in more detail below.
What’s important to keep in mind: most brainstorming methods are highly adaptable.
With the right adjustments, you can tailor them to your specific challenge and work environment to ensure a productive outcome.
At its core, brainstorming is all about creativity. Originally developed in the advertising industry, this is reflected in how the method works: open communication fosters creativity and innovation among participants. When working with a creative group that collaborates well, brainstorming brings out a wide range of perspectives — many of which wouldn’t have surfaced in a one-on-one setting. This results in a large pool of potential ideas.
In traditional brainstorming sessions as well as in formats like Figure Storming or the 6-3-5 method, participants inspire one another, building on each other’s thoughts. In a positive environment with skilled facilitation, everyone feels heard and included. This not only improves the quality of the ideas generated but also strengthens team collaboration and cohesion in the long run.
One of the key benefits of brainstorming is its effectiveness in practice. Participants don’t need extensive preparation to contribute meaningfully, and facilitators find it easy to run sessions thanks to the minimal number of rules.
Depending on the method used, brainstorming can also be flexible in terms of time and location — for example, with brainwriting or digital tools. Documented ideas can be referred back to later and may serve as inspiration for solving future challenges.
Facilitating a brainstorming session requires careful moderation to ensure that everyone has a chance to contribute — without feeling pressured to speak. Striking this balance can be tricky. Depending on the group dynamic, some participants may dominate the discussion while others remain quiet. While this isn’t necessarily a problem at first, it’s essential to create space for everyone to voice their own ideas.
Another challenge lies in sticking to the rules. Groups often tend to evaluate or criticize ideas too early in the process, which can lead to tension or disagreements. It's the moderator’s responsibility to intervene promptly and remind the group of the guidelines. If the session doesn’t lead to tangible outcomes, it may be perceived as a waste of time. Furthermore, some problems may be better solved using more targeted or analytical methods. Experience helps in choosing the right approach for a given situation.
Once the session ends, the ideas need to be evaluated — a task that participants can sometimes find difficult, especially when it comes to distinguishing strong ideas from weaker ones.
The bulk of the preparation work falls on the facilitator. They must assemble the group thoughtfully to ensure productive dynamics and define a problem or question that leads to meaningful results. One of the biggest pitfalls in brainstorming is a lack of clarity — participants may not fully understand what’s being asked of them. Also, it’s important to estimate the required time realistically.
Each brainstorming method comes with its own specific drawbacks. Some are less spontaneous or may not generate enough ideas. In digital settings, a complex or unfamiliar tool can become a barrier and hinder the session’s success.
That’s why choosing the right method — and the right format — is essential.
There are countless brainstorming tools that make the process easier and help link ideas more effectively. Of course, for classic brainstorming, a whiteboard, flipchart, or even a chalkboard will do. But an online whiteboard can be a smart choice — especially because all information is stored digitally. You can access the content even after the session ends and reuse it on other boards or in future workshops.
This is especially useful for electronic brainstorming, where participants contribute their ideas simultaneously via a shared digital platform. With a modern tool, online brainstorming becomes smooth and efficient for everyone involved.
Tip: An online whiteboard isn’t just for remote teams — it also works well for classic in-person brainstorming. Simply load a brainstorming template and project it on the wall using a beamer. Type the ideas into your laptop as they come up, and afterward you can continue working on them together — on-site or remotely.
If you'd like to give online brainstorming a try, you can start with the free version of Collaboard. It allows you to create up to three personal projects and collaborate with up to five users. It’s especially ideal for small teams or beginners. If you need more advanced features, Collaboard also offers paid plans tailored to your needs.
The value of brainstorming in the professional world has been undisputed for decades. It has proven to be one of the most effective strategies for idea generation. Teams benefit from working together on a challenge, inspiring each other with meaningful contributions tailored to the task at hand. And it's not just in creative industries — brainstorming helps uncover new solutions across all fields. No matter the context, it boosts participants' creativity.
A key factor for success is having a dedicated moderator who ensures that every idea is heard and no one feels left out. Just as important as the session itself are thoughtful preparation and the right choice of brainstorming method. When done right, brainstorming can lead you and your team to truly outstanding results.
Brainstorming is a technique used for idea generation. All participants are encouraged to contribute their thoughts, which are collected without judgment. Only after the idea-gathering phase is complete does the group move on to analyze and evaluate them.
Brainstorming is widely used to discover new and innovative solutions to problems. It focuses on developing creative ideas rather than relying solely on familiar or traditional approaches.
Literally translated, "brainstorming" would mean a “brain storm.” A more accurate interpretation is a “storm on the brain” — referring to the process of unleashing a flood of ideas from the mind.
Yes, brainstorming can absolutely be done solo. In fact, some methods are designed for individual reflection before sharing ideas with a group. However, many people find it easier to spark new ideas in a collaborative environment.
Brainstorming is based on four key rules:
Quantity over quality – the more ideas, the better
No criticism – ideas are not judged during the session
Build on ideas – participants can expand on others’ suggestions
Record everything – every idea gets written down
These principles are designed to keep the flow of ideas going without interruption.
If you're moderating a session, make sure the four rules are followed. It’s also important that everyone has a chance to contribute and that all ideas are documented.
Beyond traditional brainstorming, there are many alternative methods.
Brainwriting, Brainswarming, and shared idea journals allow participants to contribute independently.
Techniques like Figure Storming or Starbursting change the perspective or format to stimulate new thinking.
In brainstorming, ideas are gathered freely and organized only afterward. Mind mapping, on the other hand, is more structured from the beginning. Ideas are visually arranged around a central topic, showing relationships and hierarchies between them.
The length is defined by the group or facilitator in advance and depends on the question and number of participants. The idea-generation phase typically lasts between 5 and 30 minutes.
Once brainstorming is complete, the analysis phase begins. The collected ideas are reviewed, evaluated, and refined. This process helps narrow down the most promising solutions for the problem at hand.