2. Brainstorm Independently
Organizations often use group brainstorming as a primary technique for creative problem-solving and ideation. Alex Osborn, a creativity theorist and advertising executive, actually coined the term in 1953, toting its power to enhance creative performance by roughly 50 percent.
The problem is, the research begs to differ. A meta-analytic review of over 800 teams indicated that individuals are actually more likely to generate more original ideas when they don’t interact with others.
So, while we do recommend collaborative brainstorming, we strongly encourage you to start the process independently. You might be surprised what comes out of your own mind. To position yourself for successful independent brainstorming, consider:
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Finding inspirational media (e.g., find a movie, show, or podcast that inspires you)
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Going for a walk (bring a small notepad or your phone to jot down ideas)
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Making a mind map (find the relationship between seemingly disparate topics)
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Reading a book (e.g., generate an idea per page)
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Taking a brain break (e.g., take a shower, listen to music, exercise)
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Working in a new location (e.g., coworking space, coffee shop, even an Airbnb)
Independent brainstorming can be one of the best ways to generate new ideas for a new video, social post, or article. But if you’re still coming up short, perhaps you need some additional input.