“If you want to come up with one good idea, it is important to first generate many ideas.”
from ‘Am I Clever or Am I Stupid” by Kobus Neethling and Raché Rutherford
We have all used the word “brainstorming” when we meet to talk about and generate new ideas. However, I have left a few such sessions feeling a little disappointed, as if the storm that our brains generated were a little less than “wow”.
Did you know that brainstorming is actually a described four step process? In Alex Osborn’s book ‘Applied Imagination’ published in 1953, he lays down these four rules:
Step one
No criticism of ideas is allowed. Discussing or evaluating ideas is only allowed once everyone involved has absolutely no ideas left.
Step two
Generate as large a volume of ideas as possible. Quality will follow quantity.
Step three
Build on each other’s ideas. Elaborate, combine and modify to generate even more ideas.
Step four
All ideas are considered legitimate, even ideas that may seem wild or far-fetched in the moment.
"It is easier to tone down a wild idea than to think up a new one."
Alex Osborn
Why not try this process the next time you face a challenge?
