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

Claire sits down with improv performer Max Dickens, scriptwriter and the author of "Billy No Mates" and director at Hoopla, the UK's first improv theatre school. Max believes that being good at improv can make you better at almost everything, and it’s particularly good for creative thinking. Max shares his insights on how improv fosters a more collaborative mindset and offers practical ways to enhance spontaneity. Claire and Max practice the famous improv exercise ‘Yes, and’ together explore practical strategies to improve brainstorming sessions, handle difficult team dynamics, and engage in successful creative collaborations. Whether you're looking to upskill your creative processes or simply want to unlock your innovative potential, this episode is packed with advice and inspiring stories.

Here are the highlights:

05:29 How structuring the creative process can help you to brainstorm.

09:08 Collaboration in relaxed, open spaces can help you structure creative processes.

13:40 Active listening builds trust in a phone-distracted world.

21:48 People "learn by doing" and feedback is more effective than over-planning.

25:56 Focus on really understanding a problem deeply before jumping to solutions.

32:42 Why it's important to clarify your purpose and manage your expectations.

35:40 Claire and Max practice the famous improv exercise ‘Yes, and’ to help build on your creative ideas.

44:11 How to ask questions to broaden your perspective and generate ideas and solutions.

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 has worked on thousands of creative projects and trained over 40,000 of people around the world since starting Now Go Create in 2011.

About Max Dickins

Max is the Director of the UK’s first dedicated improv theatre and school, Hoopla! In his other life, he is the author of three books, most recently the best-selling Billy No Mates. He loves applying what he’s learned writing for the page - and performing on the stage - to the business world and has worked previously with Tyra Banks, Richard Branson and - less good, admittedly - the candidates on BBC1’s The Apprentice.

Connect with Max:

Website: https://www.maxdickins.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/max-dickins-improv/

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 Max:

Website: https://www.maxdickins.com/

LinkedIn:

Welcome to the debut episode of Now Go Create, where we uncover the fascinating realms of creativity and mindset. Your host Claire Bridges, founder of the UK's leading creativity training consultancy and best-selling author, is interviewed by Claire Winter to explore what's coming up in the series.

The two Claires talk about everything from creative inspiration and where ideas come from, to the intricate neuroscience and psychology of creativity. They talk about Claire’s journey from PR to Creative Director to becoming a trainer, and the challenges along the way. In this series you'll be introduced to creative techniques, learn about overcoming creative blocks, and hear the personal highs and lows over three decades of a creative career.

Here are the highlights:

01:33 Let's demystify creativity, together.

05:38 When Claire became Creative Director in charge of 120 people, she really started to explore how creativity is a skill that can be learned and honed, and not something you ‘have or have not’.

08:35 Creativity involves many different elements including grit, determination, resilience, and imagination.

11:03 Trust is essential for creativity and without it, teams will feel inhibited and collaboration is unlikely.

14:06 How to embrace the creative process as an experiment that you can't fail.

19:23 Why you need clarity in innovation processes.

21:32 Creativity tools provide structure to support diverse thinking.

25:53 Exploring creativity through mindset and neuroscience.

About Claire Bridges

Claire Bridges is Chief Spark and Founder of leading creative training consultancy Now Go Create, whose aim is to democratise creativity and make it accessible to all.

Claire worked as a PR agency Managing Director and Creative Director 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.

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

Email claire@nowgocreate.co.uk

Produced by winteraudio.co.uk