Does the word ‘brainstorm’ fill you with dread? In this conversation your host Claire Bridges is joined by a special guest, strategist and facilitator Anahita Milligan, to explore the art of hosting effective creative sessions. Having run thousands of brainstorms between them, together they delve into common pitfalls, explore alternatives like ‘question storming’, discuss why brainstorming can be torturous for introverts, and what to do instead.

Join us as we break down the barriers to collaboration, debunk myths, and equip you with tools to make your creative sessions more effective.

Here are the highlights:

03:11 In-person brainstorming is prompting requests for staff to return to offices. Alex Osborne coined "brainstorming" in the 1950s.

06:26 Discusses brainstorming experiences, challenges, and pros and cons, including virtual adaptations like MURAL.

10:44 Choose brainstorm participants wisely.

15:48 Facilitators can manage dominant participants by using body language and employing silent brainstorming techniques.

18:05 Encourage individual idea generation before group brainstorming.

20:53 Emphasise collaboration by listening and responding well

26:09 Nurture ideas gently; reframe negativity into possibility.

28:26 Trust and psychological safety are crucial for creativity.

36:26 Invite outsiders to a question storm for fresh, unbiased perspectives.

38:42 Experience the thing you're brainstorming firsthand to understand it.

47:13 Blend styles for balanced, effective group facilitation.

50:13 A ‘pitchers and catchers’ analogy about creative collaboration and throwing ideas around.

About Claire Bridges:

Claire Bridges is Chief Spark and Founder of leading creative training consultancy Now Go Create, whose philosophy is that everyone can be creative.

Claire worked as a PR agency Managing Director and Creative Director working with global brands including Starbucks, Kellogg’s, Unilever, P&G and Danone in her previous PR career. Upskilling individuals, teams and organisations with practical creativity tools is Claire’s mission.

She’s one of only 250 people globally to hold an MSc in Creativity, Leadership & Innovation, and authored an Amazon best-selling creative handbook In Your Creative Element based on her academic studies.

Claire and her hand-picked team of experts have worked on thousands of creative projects and trained over 40,000 people around the world since starting Now Go Create in 2011

Connect with Claire:

Website: https://nowgocreate.co.uk/

Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/nowgocreate/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NowGoCreate

LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/claire-bridges-b6205b14

Connect with: Anahita Milligan

Anahita is the Insight, Strategy & Creative Trainer at Now Go Create. She has been running our strategy, creative and brainstorming training course for over a decade. In her previous career as ex-Head of Strategy at the award-winning planning agency Manning Gotlieb, she ran hundreds of brainstorming sessions and client workshops, winning awards for her work.

She shares her experience in how to best solve problems and become an expert in thinking tools and group idea generating tools. She is qualified in creative problem solving and loves unravelling a problem!

Anahita is experienced in working with young adults with special needs, and is passionate about making creativity accessible to all.

Connect with Anahita: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anahita-milligan-0377b02b/

Produced by