Brainstorming Session
Generate, cluster, and select ideas using structured creative methods that encourage quantity, safety, and divergent thinking before converging.
Session
Brainstorming Session
Generate a wide range of ideas in a safe and creative environment, cluster themes, and select the most promising ideas for next steps.
Facilitator guide
Set the context, then invite each participant to share their top priority before opening discussion.
Step 2 of 4 · 18 min left
Decisions & next steps
Overview
Generate a wide range of ideas in a safe and creative environment, cluster themes, and select the most promising ideas for next steps.
Expected outcome: A broad idea list, clustered themes, selected top ideas, and next experiments..
When to use it
- Exploring new opportunities
- Generating product or feature ideas
- Finding fresh approaches to a stuck problem
Who should attend
Facilitator, product team, creative team and stakeholders — a diverse but small group.
Preparation checklist
- Frame a clear question to brainstorm
- Prepare a shared board
- Agree no judgment during generation
Example agenda outline
- 0:00–0:10
Problem framing
A clear question to brainstorm.
- 0:10–0:25
Silent generation
Individuals write ideas alone first.
- 0:25–0:50
Round-robin sharing
Each person shares in turn.
- 0:50–1:05
Clustering
Group similar ideas into themes.
- 1:05–1:20
Dot-voting
Prioritize promising ideas.
- 1:20–1:30
Experiments and owners
Pick ideas to test and assign owners.
Facilitation tips
- Separate generation from judgment
- Use silent generation to protect quieter voices
- End with experiments, not just a list
Common risks
- Judging ideas too early
- Dominant voices skewing the list
- No selection step or owner
Expected outcome
A broad idea list, clustered themes, selected top ideas and next experiments.
Use the Brainstorming Session structure for your next session
Sign up and generate a complete facilitation plan from this template.
Templates for this type of meeting
Brainstorming sessions that generate and converge
A good brainstorming session separates divergent idea generation from convergent selection. Without structure, a few voices dominate and the same obvious ideas win.
Read moreProblem-solving meetings that find the real cause
A problem-solving meeting should move from symptom to root cause to a chosen solution with owners. Without structure, teams treat symptoms and argue about the first fix that comes to mind.
Read moreHow to facilitate a meeting well
Facilitation is the difference between a meeting that decides and a meeting that drifts. This guide covers preparation, running the room, handling difficult moments and closing with action.
Read moreHow to create a workshop agenda
A workshop agenda is a sequence designed to reach an outcome. This guide covers the elements and the order that make a workshop actually work.
Read more