Brainstorming is a tool we all use for problem solving. It doesn’t require you to be logical with the ideas you come up with, and a little craziness may even help.
When you come up with ideas or solutions that defy logic, reason or break the rules, you give yourself the freedom to be creative. And you will be surprised with what you come up with.
But, when your ideas start to get mundane or you’re stuck and can’t storm anymore — start arguing — with yourself or with other members of your group. Arguing with your associates isn’t the kind where you pick a fight with him or her. In this context, it’s bouncing off ideas with someone else until you’ve exhausted all possibilities, no matter how silly or illogical they seem to be. Or if you’ve just come up with an idea and you hear that little devil inside saying, “That’s not gonna work,” or “That’s no good,” start to argue with it. Tell that contrarian you’re right. Then come up with reasons why you believe you are right, and even better, write them down on a whiteboard or a piece of paper.
The next step is to switch sides — take your peer’s or inner devil’s point of view and start arguing for that view. And keep writing them down. Remember that the purpose of brainstorming is not to come up with only one solution, but to come up with all possible solutions to your problem. And when you’re done, you can choose which you want to pursue.
This whole idea comes from the Wright Brothers, yes, Wilbur and Orville. When they had problems of flight, they argued. After cooling down, they would switch sides and take the other’s point of view and argue again. The result? They were able to come up with ideas and solutions from all angles, and then they both bought into the ideas, passionately and objectively.
So next time you brainstorm, don’t forget to argue.
P.S. And if you’re going to argue with yourself, may I suggest IdeaFisher.
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